The United Nations launches a program to combat corruption in Iraq and the Arab world from Baghdad
The United Nations launches a program to combat corruption in Iraq and the Arab world from Baghdad
2024-10-10 04:53
Shafaq News/ The United Nations Development Program presented a summary of recommendations and steps to combat corruption in the entire Arab region and in Iraq, which were agreed upon during a forum held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, including facilitating government operations, adopting e-government and artificial intelligence, enhancing the role of women and youth, partnership between public-private partnerships, and strengthening civil society, in addition to establishing an Arab observatory for integrity and transparency.
The UN report, which was followed by Shafaq News Agency, stated that Iraq hosted the second forum to promote transparency and good governance from September 10 to 12, 2024, with the participation of more than 300 people from more than 29 countries, which constituted a major step in Iraq’s efforts to combat corruption and promote sustainable solutions in the Arab region.
The report pointed out that the forum, which was held in Baghdad, was organized in cooperation with the Arab Administrative Development Organization, Transparency International, and the United Nations Development Program, and was hosted by the Federal Integrity Commission, under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
The report indicated that the forum focused on the theme of “Integrity: An Essential Element in an Age of Complexity and Opportunity,” and was partially funded by the European Union, and enjoyed significant international participation from governments and organizations.
The report explained that the world faces interconnected challenges, in terms of conflicts, climate crises and digital divides, noting that these represent particularly difficult challenges in the Arab region, and these are complexities that make it difficult to curb corruption and enhance transparency.
He pointed out that the 2024 Trends Report issued by the United Nations Development Programme highlights the unprecedented rise in conflicts in 2023, exceeding levels not seen since the end of World War II, adding that the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index issued by Transparency International shows that most Arab countries have witnessed stagnation in their rankings in the Corruption Perceptions Index for more than a decade, largely due to political corruption that undermines anti-corruption efforts.
The report continued that during the Baghdad Forum, participants discussed these challenges and discovered solutions through discussion groups and working groups, as the report reviewed a set of measures that it described as “bold” and required to curb corruption, throughout the Arab region, which include:
-Simplifying government processes and adopting e-government tools
– Strengthening public-private partnerships to ensure transparency and accountability.
-Enabling civil society to play a more effective role in anti-corruption strategies
-Encouraging the private sector to enhance internal governance and financial transparency.
In addition, one of the most prominent proposals was put forward during the Baghdad Forum, which calls for the establishment of an Arab Observatory for Integrity and Transparency, which is a regional platform for monitoring anti-corruption efforts and evaluating the effectiveness of policies.
The report added that the Baghdad Forum emphasized the potential of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing, in improving governance efficiency. Additional recommendations included providing legal protection for whistleblowers, empowering women and youth in leadership roles, and ensuring transparency in the management of public funds.
In addition, regional cooperation was highlighted, with governments called on to share expertise and strengthen cross-border investigations to tackle corruption on a wider scale.
The report concluded by pointing out that the Arab Forum for Promoting Transparency and Good Governance is a joint initiative between Transparency International and the Arab Administrative Development Organization, adding that it will continue to be held annually until 2030, with each edition hosted by a different Arab country. It brings together governments, the private sector, academia, civil society and the media from across the region to promote dialogue and accelerate action against corruption.
shafaq.com
