Advancing Governance Through Legislative Reform and Policy Dialogue

Duhok, February 24, 2025 – As part of its commitment to fostering policy research and governance reforms, the University of Duhok (UOD), through its Center for Federalism Studies and the Center for Legal and Political Research at the College of Law, in collaboration with the Office of the Iraqi Parliament – Duhok, successfully organized a scientific symposium titled:

📌 "A Study on the Federal Council Bill in Iraq."

Held at UOD’s Cultural and Social Center, the symposium brought together leading legal scholars, governance experts, and members of the Iraqi Parliament, reinforcing UOD’s mission to drive impactful discussions on Iraq’s federal system and legislative reforms.

Shaping Iraq’s Federal Future: Key Insights from the Symposium

Opening Remarks: Addressing the Urgent Need for a Federal Council

In her keynote address, Dr. Aveen Khalid Abdulrahman, Dean of the College of Law at UOD, emphasized the necessity of establishing a Federal Council, a constitutional requirement that remains unimplemented. She outlined its crucial role in protecting the powers of federal regions, ensuring balanced governance, and addressing legislative gaps. Dr. Aveen stressed that the formation, authority, and member selection of the Federal Council should be rooted in constitutional principles rather than dictated solely by parliamentary decisions.

Analyzing the Federal Council Bill: A Strategic Legislative Perspective

Najmuddin Mohiuddin, Director of the Center for Federalism Studies at UOD, highlighted the significance of this symposium at a time when the Federal Council Bill is still under review. He underscored the importance of an inclusive and balanced representation model, advocating against population-based selection criteria similar to the Parliament’s structure, which could disproportionately benefit certain regions over others.

Comparative Insights: Global Federal Systems and Their Implications for Iraq

Dr. Ranjbar Jamil Sheikho, a legal expert, presented a comparative analysis of successful federal systems worldwide, drawing lessons for Iraq’s governance structure. His key recommendations included:

• Community-Based Representation: Instead of a province-based selection, he proposed structuring the Federal Council membership to ensure fair representation of Iraq’s diverse ethnic, religious, and regional communities, promoting national unity.
• Veto Power for Regional Protection: He advocated granting the Federal Council veto authority on decisions that could disproportionately affect federal regions, particularly the Kurdistan Region, ensuring that regional interests are not overridden by central authorities.

Legal Framework and Policy Recommendations

During the second session, Legal Advisor Dilgash Sadiq provided an in-depth critique of the Federal Council Bill, examining both its strengths and potential shortcomings. The session encouraged structured dialogue among legal scholars and policymakers, leading to recommendations recorded for parliamentary review, ensuring alignment with constitutional principles and governance best practices.

UOD’s Role in Policy Development and Federalism Research

This symposium underscores UOD’s strategic role as a hub for legal and political research, actively contributing to Iraq’s governance and decentralization efforts. Through initiatives like this, UOD continues to:

✅ Lead discussions on legislative and policy reforms crucial to Iraq’s federal structure.
✅ Provide evidence-based research and policy recommendations to policymakers.
✅ Strengthen academic-government collaborations for more effective governance models.

As Iraq navigates the complexities of federal governance and legislative restructuring, UOD remains at the forefront of academic discourse, shaping the future of constitutional law and political decentralization in Iraq.

For further insights into Iraq’s federalism, legal studies, and governance research, explore academic resources at UOD’s Center for Federalism Studies.

📸 Watch the symposium highlights here: [Insert Link]

📍 UOD Media | February 24, 2025
📝 Reported by: Ramadhan Shaaban Ramadhan
📸 Photography by: Mohammed Abdulkareem Tahir

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