Attorney General of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq attends UNDP Workshop on Financial Investigations (EN/AR) – Iraq

May 22, 2024, Baghdad, Iraq – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq welcomed the Attorney General of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), Judge Kawa Fathi Masoum, to one of its ongoing workshops on financial investigations in Baghdad at the Judicial Development Institute earlier this week.

During his visit, the Attorney General praised the long-standing partnership between UNDP and the national justice system and stressed the importance of these joint efforts to combat financial crime and corruption throughout Iraq. He commended the UNDP training team, including Dr. Mohammed Almosly, James May and Jafar Nema, for their commitment, excellence and promotion of an interactive training approach.

Judge Masoum’s visit provided an opportunity to recognize the successes of UNDP Iraq’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of judicial and law enforcement officials across Iraq. Since 2021, UNDP Iraq, with support from the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, has trained over 2,000 officers, including more than 700 judges, to investigate, prosecute, and convict of complex and organized crimes, including corruption, unjust enrichment, and money laundering .

Judge Kawa Fathi Masoum said: “During our participation in the judicial workshop on May 17 and 18, 2024, we awarded the members of the UNDP Financial Investigation Project team the Public Prosecution Shield in recognition of their exceptional efforts to train our judges in financial investigation techniques schools. This training will improve prosecutors’ abilities to monitor and protect public funds, detect corruption and money laundering crimes, and hold perpetrators accountable. The commitment and expertise of the UNDP team also led to the development and publication of a Financial Investigations Manual, which was adopted by our Iraqi institutions to unify our procedures and efforts in this area. UNDP experts played a significant role in the success of the program.”

Auke Lootsma, UNDP Permanent Representative in Iraq, added: “It is an honor to have with us the Attorney General of the KRI. His presence underscores the important role of partnerships in achieving our shared goal of reducing corruption and strengthening justice in Iraq.”

Dr. Mohamed Almosly, national and international trainer and UNDP expert on financial investigations, stressed the importance of the workshops. “Our training sessions are highly interactive and tailored to the needs of the participants. They promote collaborative approaches and equip officers with the necessary tools to conduct thorough financial investigations. The success of these workshops is reflected in the strong networking and knowledge sharing between the judiciary and other authorities.”

A notable achievement of this project is the publication of the Handbook on Improving Financial Investigations and Upholding the Rule of Law in November 2023. This comprehensive guide was jointly produced by 12 institutions and represents a valuable resource for practitioners involved in financial investigations.

About UNDP Iraq

UNDP in Iraq supports the Iraqi government’s efforts towards reconciliation, reform and stability. His support in the development of Iraq’s financial investigation manual is part of his work under the Security Sector Reform and Rule of Law Program. The aim of the program is to support the government’s efforts to achieve long-term peace and stability through an improved security and justice sector. His work in financial investigations and anti-money laundering is made possible by the generous contributions of the United States Government.

Media Contact: Zein Hamon, Communications Analyst | [email protected] | +964 780 780 447 3336