Integrity: The effects of corruption cast a shadow on the private sector and inflict huge losses on

The head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Judge Haider Hanoun, confirmed today, Thursday, that the devastating effects of corruption are casting a shadow on the private sector and causing merchants to suffer huge losses, due to the extortion and bargaining to which they are exposed.

The Commission stated in a statement received by Al-Eqtisad News that, “On the sidelines of the tenth session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Arab Network for Promoting Integrity and Anti-Corruption held a meeting at the ministerial level under the title (Paths towards enhancing confidence).”

According to the statement, the head of the network for the current session, the head of the Iraqi Federal Integrity Commission, Judge Haider Hanoun, during his chairmanship of the two sessions that included the ministerial meeting, reviewed “the effectiveness of efforts to recover funds resulting from corruption and the effectiveness of involving civil society organizations,” pointing out that “this scourge, if it can cause "It causes severe damage to individuals' livelihoods and leads to poverty, unemployment, and low levels of health and education."

Hanoun added, "The devastating effects of corruption also cast a shadow on non-governmental sectors such as the private sector, and the resulting huge losses are incurred by project owners, contractors, and merchants due to the extortion, bargaining, and bribery to which they are exposed," while he opened the door for dialogue and interventions on two main axes: Recovery and the focus of civil society participation.

For her part, the representative of the host country, Maggie Nardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, delivered her speech at the event, referring to “the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,” pointing to “the importance of conducting a joint in-depth reading of the achievements that have been achieved and what has emerged.” Challenges at the international, regional and national levels regarding the implementation of the provisions of this important agreement, in order to stimulate and deepen efforts in the next stage.”

The statement explained, “Ministers, heads of agencies and their representatives, and representatives of partner organizations and countries participated in the session, as well as representatives of members of the network, the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Their interventions focused on the achievements, challenges and obstacles of the file of recovering persons and assets and the importance of establishing an international lobbying bloc.” “To work with the countries that are incubating the looted funds and assets and whose refusal to cooperate is confirmed, and to find unconventional means in the issue of recovering funds, combating corruption, addressing dual nationality and differences in laws, and urging the conclusion of bilateral memorandums of understanding between countries.”

He pointed out that “the Arab Network for Promoting Integrity and Anti-Corruption, which is headed by Iraq, represented by the Integrity Commission, is the most prominent regional mechanism specialized in supporting the efforts of Arab countries against corruption in accordance with national priorities, and includes 48 ministries and governmental and judicial bodies from 18 Arab countries, in addition to observers.” From Brazil and Malaysia, as well as a non-governmental group of independent organizations.”