The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) finance ministry, electricity ministry, and municipal councils are “among the most affected government sectors by grand corruption,” the UNDP said in the report's summary on Sunday.
The “comprehensive report” assessed judicial procedures in 100 major corruption cases and 50 judiciary decisions in Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani provinces from 2016 to 2022.
The head of the Kurdistan Region’s judiciary emphasized his willingness in “proving our dedication against corruption.”
“[T]he report also provides us with an opportunity to advance our committed practices towards a more transparent and accountable judiciary system,” said Abduljabbar Aziz Hassan, head of the Judicial Council in the Kurdistan Region, in the report’s summary.
Combating corruption through digitizing its institutions, reform, and other initiatives have been major promises of the current government in the Kurdistan Region.
Rudaw English reached out to Hassan and the KRG on Sunday, but they were unavailable for comment.
The UNDP reported offering “a number of recommendations to bolster the efforts in achieving transparency and integrity within the judicial system,” while highlighting “substantial progress by the Kurdistan Regional Government in combating corruption.”
The report stated: “The analysis reveals an increase in convictions compared to acquittals, though the rate of high-level defendants remains low, with few senior government officials being charged.”
The cooperative report was made with the UNDP`s Anti-Corruption and Arbitration Initiatives financed by the European Union, the Kurdistan Region’s judicial council, and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
“This critical report, the culmination of our joint efforts, represents a significant milestone in our collective quest for enhanced transparency and justice. We stand ready to collaborate to address the recommendations of the report,” UNDP Representative Auke Lootsma said at a launch event in Erbil on Saturday.
The report’s recommendations include establishing specialized courts for major corruption cases, enacting legislation to protect whistleblowers, and reinforcing the financial independence of the public prosecutor’s office.
In December 2022, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, then UNAMI head, said that deep-rooted corruption within the Iraqi state is the primary obstacle to reform.
