Sulaymaniyah, December 2-3, 2024 – Peace and Freedom Organization in collaboration with the Iraqi Human Rights Watch Association, held an expanded workshop in Sulaymaniyah to discuss the reality of civil society organizations in Iraq and Kurdistan Region, the workshop was part of the "Tatweer 2" program implemented by the Italian organization (UPP) in partnership with local organizations, including Al-Mesalla Organization for Human Resources Development, and funded by the European Union.
 
 
The workshop was attended by Mr. Ahmad Al-Ghalbi, Deputy Director-General of the NGO Directorate in Iraq, and Mr. Hardi Ahmad, Deputy Head of the NGO Directorate in the Kurdistan Region, along with heads of the registration and legal departments in the directorates and representatives from more than 30 local and international organizations in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region , over the two days, various organizational issues related to the working environment of NGOs were discussed, including topics such as organization registration, financial reports, activity reports, administrative matters, and bank accounts, as well as the challenges faced by NGOs in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, alongside the needs of both directorates.
 
Discussions also focused on enhancing the relationship between the NGO Directorate in Iraq and its counterpart in the Kurdistan Region, as well as improving communication mechanisms with NGOs, at the conclusion of the workshop, a set of recommendations and proposals were agreed upon to improve the working environment of NGOs in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, specifically concerning registration and reporting.
 
Additionally, the official delegation from both directorates held various meetings and visits, including discussions between representatives of the NGO Directorates of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as visits to the Amna Suraka Museum in Sulaymaniyah, the Ba'athist Crimes Museum in the Kurdistan Region, the tomb of the late President Jalal Talabani, and several historical and cultural sites in the governorate.
 
Peace and Freedom Organization and its partner, Human Rights Watch Association, are also planning to organize a similar meeting in Baghdad in the near future