The College of Law and Politics at the University of Human Development (UHD) hosted a panel discussing domestic violence law and the role of Family Counselling Centres in settling domestic disputes. These Family Counselling Centres operate under the General Directorate of Combating Violence Against Women and Family, a division of the Ministry of Interior within the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq.

The panel, titled ‘The Role of the Reconciliation Committee in Domestic Violence Law for Protecting Family Stability and Limiting Crimes’, was held at the Seminar Hall on 9 November 2026. The guest speaker was Colonel Hemn Abdulqadir, Director of the Family Counselling Centre at the Directorate of Domestic Violence in Sulaymaniyah. The panel was moderated by Dr Asos Namiq Brakhas, a lecturer in the UHD Law Department.

Colonel Hemn Abdulqadir shed light on his centre’s operations, explaining that they receive domestic dispute cases from the Court of Investigation before they can be transferred to the Misdemeanour Court or Criminal Court. Supported by specialised experts, the Counselling Centre works to bring disputing parties together to achieve reconciliation. If these efforts succeed, the legal proceedings halt, divorce is avoided, and the family’s issues are resolved. Consequently, this intervention also reduces the overall workload for the court system.

Colonel Abdulqadir spoke at length about the growing number of issues handled by his centre in Sulaymaniyah, as well as similar centres across the region, noting that they are occasionally overwhelmed by the sheer scale of these problems. However, he emphasised that they do their utmost to support families in distress. He also clarified that his centre does not operate like a court where attendance is mandatory for both parties. Visiting the centre is entirely voluntary; consequently, some individuals choose not to attend. Despite these challenges, Colonel Abdulqadir expressed pride in the centre’s ability to successfully resolve family disputes in some cases.

Social issues, including domestic violence, are on the rise in Kurdistan, a trend likely driven by the increasing complexities of modern life. The speaker noted that this reality must be acknowledged so that such issues can be addressed with care.

The panel concluded with questions and comments. The audience primarily consisted of fifth-year students from the UHD Department of Law, alongside several lecturers from both the Law Department and other colleges across the university.