Ministry of Transport and Communications and SEED Advocate to Strengthen the Kurdistan Region’s Response to Online Violence

Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — December, 2025: His Excellency Ano Jawhar, Minister of Transport and Communication, and SEED President and Executive Director, Sherri Kraham Talabany, held a high-level meeting to advance joint efforts to address the growing threat of online violence in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, particularly against women and children.

Both parties expressed deep concern over the increasing rates of online exploitation, abuse, and digital harm, and agreed on the urgent need to strengthen legal, technical, and institutional safeguards to protect vulnerable communities in all digital spaces.

Shared Priorities and Areas of Collaboration:

During the meeting, the Ministry and SEED affirmed their shared commitment to two key priorities:

1. Advancing Comprehensive Legislation on Online Violence

The Ministry and SEED jointly acknowledged the gaps in legal protections that currently exist in the Kurdistan Region regarding the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of online violence, including crimes involving children. Both parties emphasized the need for new or amended legislation that clearly defines online offenses, protects victims’ rights, and enables effective accountability mechanisms.

SEED highlighted the scale of the issue with a high number of reports of online child sexual exploitation and abuse-related crimes, and presented its own legislative analysis and recommendations with regard to existing and needed legislation in both Kurdistan and Iraq. The Ministry welcomed SEED’s offer of support to assist in future legislative development.

2. Strengthening a Coordinated Institutional Response

Both parties agreed that an effective response system requires clear institutional roles, specialized procedures, and coordinated referral pathways for cases of online violence. Discussions focused on identifying lead institutions for investigation, child protection, and service delivery, and on building safe and practical coordination mechanisms, even prior to the passage of new legislation.

The Ministry recognized SEED’s ongoing work to both provide critical services to survivors and to build the capacity of law enforcement and other agencies to respond to cases of online violence, and highlighted the importance of sustaining and expanding expertise within government systems.

Joint Commitment to Protecting Communities Online

Minister Jawhar and Talabany affirmed their mutual dedication to advancing a safer digital environment in the Kurdistan Region. By strengthening legal protections and enhancing inter-agency response systems, both the Ministry and SEED aim to reduce harm, improve access to justice, and ensure that children, women, and all community members are safeguarded from online violence.

Both parties expressed their intention to continue close coordination and collaboration in the months ahead.

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