A Recent UNDP Report Reveals Corruption in Kurdistan Region Entities & Provinces

Kurdistan 10:17 PM - 2024-08-22

The UNDP's report presentation ceremony in Erbil

An international report on corruption in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has revealed that Erbil Province has the highest number of corruption cases in the Kurdistan Region, followed by Sulaymaniyah and Duhok provinces.

According to the report, which was provided to PUKMEDIA, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has reported that 43% of corruption instances occur in Erbil, 33% in Sulaymaniyah, and 24% in Duhok. Erbil is ranked as the most corrupt city, however the report does not include Halabja. This implies that the combined corruption rate for the Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and the administrations of Garmian, and Raparin is 33%. 

 

Finance Ministry is the most corrupt

According to the UNDP report, the Ministry of Finance is ranked as the top corrupted ministry out of the 20 ministries and departments of the KRG. It is followed by the Ministries of Electricity and Municipalities, which hold the second and third positions in the corruption rating. 

UNDP indicated that the Ministries of Finance, electricity, and municipalities are the entities that experience the greatest impact from corruption, with respective percentages of 25%, 18%, and 17%.

There are a total of 150 cases, with 50 cases having been evaluated and 100 cases having been observed. The Ministry of Finance has 37 cases, followed by Electricity with 27 cases, Municipalities with 26 cases, Education with 13 cases, Health with 8 cases, and Higher Education with 4 cases. The remaining entities' cases range from 3 to 1. 

 

20 ministries and departments were sampled

PUKMEDIA conducted an investigation on this report, where a total of 20 ministries and departments were sampled. Nevertheless, the KRG lacks ministries dedicated to defence and migration. Additionally, the report does not mention six ministries and departments, namely Justice, Planning, Martyrs and Anfal Affairs, Transport, Endowment and Religious Affairs, Minority Affairs, and Parliament Affairs. 

 

The report will be used to fight corruption

The report, a crucial component of the UNDP's efforts to address arbitration and combat corruption, is being published in collaboration with the Kurdistan Regional Judicial Council and the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). The initiative is supported by the European Union.

During the launch event, Auke Lootsma, the Resident Representative for UNDP Iraq, emphasised the significance of the report in the combined endeavours to combat corruption. He stated "The report, which is the result of our collaborative efforts, marks a crucial achievement in our shared mission to advance transparency and justice. We are prepared to collaborate in order to execute the suggestions outlined in the report." 

Thomas Seiler, the EU Ambassador to Iraq, stated in a video message to the audience that the trial follow-up report offers a comprehensive understanding of the management of investigations and the conduct of trials. He said that they would use the report's recommendations as a guide to enhance their initiatives and bolster their anti-corruption measures. 

Judge Abduljabar Aziz Hassan, the President of the Kurdistan Region's Judicial Council, emphasised the significant impact of the report on improving the Region's judiciary. He stated that the report not only showcases their commitment to combating corruption but also presents an opportunity to enhance their current procedures to establish a more transparent and accountable judicial system.

 

Reform recommendations to combat corruption in Kurdistan Region

The report urges the KRG, the Judicial Council, the BAR Association, civil society, and the international community to put into effect the suggested measures for combating corruption. 

The suggestions include the creation of dedicated courts to handle significant corruption cases, revising the penal code to tackle current problems like bribery in the private industry, and passing laws to safeguard victims. The report additionally advocates for restricting the authority of organisations and enhancing supervision in sectors impacted by corruption. 

Additional suggestions encompass enhancing criminal procedures to bolster investigative capabilities, adopting an electronic case management system, and standardising sentencing practices. Furthermore, the report emphasises the significance of enhancing the financial independence of the public prosecution and providing assistance to civil society in their efforts to combat corruption.



PUKMEDIA