Erbil: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights participated in a workshop focused on monitoring grave violations against children. The event, titled ‘Monitoring Grave Violations Against Children: International Legal Frameworks, the UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM), and National Monitoring in the Post-MRM Phase,’ was organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in collaboration with Save the Children. It involved several national bodies, including the High National Committee for Monitoring and Reporting and Following Up on Violations Against Children Resulting from Armed Conflict, held in Erbil Governorate.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Commission was represented by Wissam Al-Rubaie, Director of the Baghdad Office, and Khalid Al-Hadithi, Child Affairs Director at the Baghdad Office. Participants included members of the National Committee, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the National Security Advisory, and representatives from various ministries such as Labor and Social Affairs, Interior, Defense, Education, and Foreign Affairs. The Child Welfare Authority and specialists in child protection and monitoring also took part.
The workshop aimed to bolster national capacities in monitoring six grave violations against children, reviewing international legal frameworks for their protection, and discussing verification, documentation, and reporting mechanisms. It further explored the requirements for maintaining national monitoring in prevention, early warning, referral, and response areas.
The Commission’s involvement is rooted in its national role in monitoring and documenting violations related to children’s rights. Its efforts include verifying and analyzing information, tracking risk indicators and trends, contributing to reporting, and coordinating with relevant bodies. This engagement is integral to enhancing the child protection system and supporting the development of a sustainable national system for monitoring, early warning, referral, and response in the post-MRM phase.