Rights group urges protection for Iraq’s corruption informants – Shafaq News

Shafaq News-
Baghdad

Protecting
corruption informants from retaliation is essential to the success of Iraq’s
nationwide Dawn Crackdown (Sawlat al-Fajr) campaign, the Strategic Center for
Human Rights said on Monday, describing them as the “first line of defense” in
safeguarding public funds.

In a
statement, the center called the operation an important step toward
strengthening the rule of law and holding those involved accountable, but
stressed that sustainable results require a safe legal environment that allows
citizens and employees to report corruption “without fear of revenge, threats,
or losing their jobs.”

It urged
Parliament, the government, judicial authorities, and oversight bodies to
complete legislation protecting witnesses and experts, and establish secure and
confidential reporting channels, describing such measures as consistent with
the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

Highlighting
the role of informants in exposing bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power,
the watchdog cited OECD estimates showing that nearly 43% of detected foreign corruption
cases worldwide began through individual reports or internal reporting systems.
It also pointed to Federal Integrity Commission data showing that Iraqi authorities
have received thousands of corruption reports in recent years, referred many
suspects to the judiciary, and carried out operations to recover stolen funds
inside and outside the country.

On June 28,
Iraqi authorities launched “Dawn Crackdown,” a nationwide anti-corruption
campaign under Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s direction, targeting current and
former officials, lawmakers, politicians, business owners, ministers,
directors-general, provincial governors, and other suspects.

The Council
of Ministers ordered investigative committees on July 4 to complete
corruption-related cases within 60 days. It also urged citizens to report
public assets and funds obtained through corruption and directed authorities to
provide financial rewards for informants in accordance with the law.

Read more: Iraq detains top officials in
anti-corruption sweep: What we know so far