Social Security for Journalists: A Protection for Their Future
Today April 22nd, marks the (128)th anniversary of the publication of the first Kurdish newspaper named (Kurdistan). This occasion coincides with the 28th anniversary of the founding of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate. We take this opportunity to extend our warmest congratulations to the journalists of Kurdistan in general, and we bow in reverence to the souls of the journalists who lost their lives as a result of journalistic and media work and fell as martyrs for the sake of the free word.
On the anniversary of Kurdish Press Day and the founding of the Journalists Syndicate, we would like to clarify that we are making strenuous efforts to regulate media work by amending Law No. 35 of 2007 to align it with the requirements of modern media. We are also implementing reforms in other areas and activating the Journalists’ Pension Fund.
Dear Journalists and Media Professionals:
We at the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate stand firmly with you and are committed to securing your rights. In this context, we are in contact with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to ensure that journalists are included in the social security system under the Labor Law, thus guaranteeing your rights after retirement from journalism and media work. Ensuring the livelihood of journalists is a top priority for our Syndicate. A discussion session was planned in coordination with the Ministry of Labor regarding social security for journalists, but the current circumstances resulting from the war in the region have prevented this from taking place. In addition, we have approached theMinistry of Municipalities regarding the necessity of including journalists (employed, according to the Syndicate’s classification) in the allocation of residential land plots.
We would also like to point out another important issue: the suspension of the Kurdistan Parliament sessions has frozen the development and amendment of our legislative projects. Therefore, we urge the swift resumption of the Kurdistan Parliament’s work and the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s cabinet. With the Parliament’s reactivation, our projects will be successful, alongside the continued support of the Kurdistan Regional Government, which has contributed to and facilitated our work within the Syndicate.
We take this opportunity to mention the upcoming fourth conference of the Journalists Syndicate. This issue has become a point of contention among journalists, and unions and syndicates are grappling with this dilemma. We, in turn, have repeatedly called for the convening of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate conference, despite the current political and economic challenges facing the region. However, a suitable environment for holding the conference has not yet been established. We hope that the appropriate conditions will be available this year for the Syndicate’s conference to take place.
Dear Media Professionals:
As you know, rapid changes are occurring in the media landscape as a result of the technological revolution. This has led to the emergence of numerous media outlets and a significant increase in the number of readers and viewers. Consequently, this situation has created a need for productive and concise media. We are fully aware of the technological advancements, but what is most important at this stage is to deal professionally and responsibly with situations of war and exceptional circumstances. Therefore, we urge journalists to approach events responsibly in order to preserve the security of the Kurdistan Region.
We would also like to highlight an important issue concerning the Board for the Defense of Journalists and their Rights. It is encouraging that the number of violations committed against journalists has decreased recently, a positive development that contributes to creating a safer environment for journalistic work in the region.
On this occasion, as in previous years, we reiterate the importance of establishing a federation to represent journalists in Kurdistan. Our union has already developed a project and a framework for this, and we emphasize that our efforts to ensure the project’s success, in service to journalists, are ongoing.
We also announce that a delegation from the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate will participate next month in the centennial commemoration of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in France. The Syndicate’s delegation will participate with a specific plan and program for this occasion, including a report on the past three years highlighting the achievements of Kurdistan journalists within the IFJ.
Finally, it is important to note the ongoing war in the region and the threats facing the Kurdistan Region through missile and drone attacks by militias and terrorist groups, which have resulted in the martyrdom and injury of civilians. On the occasion of Kurdish Press Day, we call upon media institutions and journalists to act with ethical responsibility in their coverage of events and to cooperate with security institutions to implement security directives and guidelines that serve the public interest and protect the security of the Kurdistan Region.
Congratulations on Kurdish Press Day and the founding of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate.
Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate Council
4/22/2026
Kurdistan – Hawler, the capital
