The impact of administrative and financial corruption on human rights
- For leadership
- For policymakers
My research examines corruption in Iraq, which is a highly corrupt country in terms of human rights. High corruption levels have persisted for years, especially since the collapse of the regime in 2003
The spread of corruption is directly related to human rights. Citizens have started to feel that corruption is the only way out, and it is expanding. This corruption has led to human trafficking, drugs, crime, and a lack of justice.
Criminals can buy their way out of punishment, which alarms citizens who then begin to use corruption for survival. I wrote a paper to expose this dark side of corruption, focusing on its impact on human rights, which I believe is even more severe than its political consequences.
Insights
The collapse of Iraqi society and the spread of criminal activities signify a total breakdown in the government and society.
This is not a government where laws apply to everyone. With no respect and no politics, the spread of militias and weapons is a prime reason for corruption. This increased power leads to human rights violations.
The total collapse of ethical and societal codes is evident in the daily criminal activity taking place in the daylight and numerous strange lawsuits.
It is uncommon to find an employee who is not corrupt. The expectation of having to pay bribes to get things done has become ingrained in society. If we don't pay a bribe, it feels strange to us, and we start to worry that our paperwork won't get processed.
Respecting human rights should be the priority of the government and the judicial system.
The people currently holding these positions are not experts. Even consultants in human rights don't fully understand the topic. If human rights are not prioritised, we can't move forward. We will keep diagnosing problems without taking action.
The judicial system, which should be our insurance, is corrupt.
Judges are chosen by corrupt individuals in political parties, not by the parliament. Judges who are not biased towards these corrupt parties can be killed, and many have been. Courts are corrupt, and judges are scared. They sometimes have to rely on corruption for their survival.
I have witnessed the selection process for government positions, which should be based on meritocracy and expertise.
However, some individuals pay experts to secure their positions, opening the door for more efficient criminal activities through forgery and nepotism.
Suggested next steps
The first step is for the government to prioritise human rights and bring them to the forefront
We need to make penalties harsher for corruption
In the Iraqi constitution, judges should not be chosen by parliaments but should be publicly elected by ordinary people
Acknowledgements
Thank you to KPSRL
These insights were made available thanks to the support of KPSRL, who are committed to the dissemination of knowledge for all.
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