The purpose of the trip was to increase cooperation between Norway and the Kurdish authorities. The collaboration covers immigration and issues related to forced marriages of people with ties to Norway, child abductions and persons who are left in Iraq against their will. Bilateral talks were held with the Interior Minister Karim Sinjari, Foreign Minister Falah Bakir, Minister of Justice Raouf Rashid Adbulrahmen, Parliament President Kamal Kirkuki and the Committee of Justice of the Kurdish parliament. The delegation from Norway was updated on the political situation and discussed issues related to the Kurdish diaspora in Norway. Existing cooperation in the areas of protection of women and human rights were discussed. Furthermore, a possible greater cooperation with Iraq in the sector of justice focusing on the government's needs was well received.
Norwegian People's Aid in Iraq works, amongst other things, with awareness-raising activities aimed at young people who are in danger of being forced into marriage. Dialogues with religious leaders have been given a greater role in this effort, since many of these marriages are carried through in the mosques. According to the Kurdish law there is no longer allowed to marry people without legal approval. Mullahs are meaningful in Iraq and have great influence in local communities. Secretary of State Lønseth and the Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, Petter Ølberg, participated in a meeting where 45 mullahs gathered to discuss their role and other issues related to forced marriage and child marriage (persons under 18 years) in Iraq. Lønseth informed that this type of marriage is illegal in Norway and asked the religious leaders for help to eliminate this form of marriage that destroys many young lives, both in Iraq and Norway.
The delegation also visited a Norwegian-funded local organization that provides legal and psychosocial support to women who are victims of violence and threats from their own families. Three Norwegian women are part of the organization's reference group and the State Secretary also met with them. The Norwegian women all have extensive experience in working with violence against women and assist the organization to raise its competence.
The Norwegian project that assists Iraqis who voluntarily return to Iraq from Norway, was also followed up by the delegation in meetings with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Four persons who have made use of this offer, met with Secretary of State Lønseth. The feedback from those returned were mixed; while three had managed to establish their own business operations after returning, one had not experienced the return to Iraq as positive.