Iraqi Justice Minister Discusses Foreign Children, Detainees Transferred from Syria with Red Cross

The Iraqi Justice Minister discussed the file of foreign children accompanying their mothers in correctional facilities and foreign detainees transferred from Syria with the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) mission in Iraq. Iraqi Minister of Justice, Khaled Shawani, received the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) mission in Iraq, William de Jong, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting aimed to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation and coordination regarding foreign children accompanying their mothers in correctional facilities. The talks also covered the file of foreign detainees who have been transferred to Iraq from Syria. The Ministry of Justice clarified that the discussions focused on mechanisms for dealing with these two files in accordance with established legal and humanitarian frameworks. The necessity of mobilizing essential support from the international community for these detainees transferred to Iraq was also discussed, ensuring compliance with legal and humanitarian obligations towards them. For his part, Minister Shawani emphasized the importance of international cooperation and coordination with the concerned states regarding children placed in correctional institutions. He stressed the need to work towards their repatriation to their home countries according to agreements concluded with the Iraqi side. He also highlighted the importance of supporting the file of detainees transferred from Syria to help address their situations in line with legal and humanitarian contexts. In response, the head of the ICRC mission expressed the organization's readiness to continue supporting efforts to communicate with relevant countries and facilitate procedures related to the transfer of detainees to their home countries. He also affirmed ongoing cooperation with the Ministry of Justice in various humanitarian and correctional fields.