Enhancing the Right to a Fair Trial, Improving Detention Conditions, and Eliminating Torture in Iraq

Project Description: Implemented in partnership with NPA and PAO and supported by the European Union, this project advanced legal protections, human rights monitoring, and institutional safeguards across Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The initiative conducted systematic monitoring visits to prisons and detention centers, provided direct legal aid, and appointed defense counsel for detainees, inmates, and victims of torture. A dedicated juvenile justice component safeguarded fair trial rights for youth while advocating for legislative revisions regarding the minimum age of criminal responsibility in line with international human rights standards. The project also delivered capacity-building cycles for judicial and administrative staff and collaborated with both Federal and KRG authorities to reform detention conditions, optimize oversight mechanisms, and build child-friendly justice procedures aimed at eliminating torture during investigation and trial phases.