Speaker Rewas Faiq: Corruption has negative impact on all countries

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewas Faiq spoke at an anti-corruption conference held on International Anti-Corruption Day in Erbil on 9 December.  

In her speech, Speaker Faiq said that the occasion is an opportunity to renew the fight against corruption, which has deep roots and affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development, contributes to instability and attacks the foundations of democratic institutions, the Speaker said.

Dr Faiq stressed that it is everyone’s duty tackle corruption as all have felt its harmful effects, and that our understanding of good governance is transparency, accountability, the rule of law and respect for human rights. “The United Nations Convention against Corruption is the only universal anti-corruption instrument and it inspires us,” she said.

Dr. Faiq added, "We in the Kurdistan Parliament strive to implement the main international pillars of human rights agreements and achieve equality between citizens. We also strive to provide the best living standards for our people, as we understand that providing services to the public, meeting their daily needs and tackling corruption are integral to protecting human rights."

Dr Faiq said that Parliament’s liaises with international organizations to improve its task of tackling corruption and further embedding human rights principles in Kurdistan’s institutions.