The head of the Kuwaiti Transparency Society, Majed Al-Mutairi, emphasizes the importance of quality legislation and reforms that truly benefit the nation. While acknowledging the unprecedented government-parliamentary cooperation in Kuwait, Al-Mutairi urges attention to be paid to the effectiveness of the legislation. As the world celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9th, and the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Kuwait Transparency Society has been working tirelessly to improve Kuwait’s ranking in international indicators, particularly the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
Over the past two years, the Kuwait Transparency Society has made significant strides in enhancing Kuwait’s standing in global indicators. Their efforts have earned them the position of General Coordinator for the non-governmental group in the Arab Network for Promoting Integrity and Anti-Corruption (ACINET), highlighting the influential role of Kuwaiti civil society organizations, particularly the Kuwait Transparency Society, in the region.
Furthermore, the society has actively shared its local experiences and expertise in evaluating national performance by participating in the meetings of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). This involvement allows them to contribute to the evaluation of Kuwait’s efforts in combating money laundering and terrorist financing for the year 2023. The recognition of the society as one of the civil regulatory bodies involved in this process underscores its credibility and influence.
Al-Mutairi identifies several key requirements to improve transparency and combat corruption in Kuwait:
- The Public Authority for Anti-Corruption must fulfill its duties as outlined in the law of its establishment.
- The implementation of the remaining components of the national anti-corruption strategy needs to be accelerated. Additionally, preparations for the new strategy for 2024-2029, which aligns with the Kuwaiti reality, should be initiated.
- The law on appointment to senior positions should be approved.
- The formation of the High Electoral Commission should be expedited, and a law on transparency and integrity of the National Assembly should be endorsed.
- Civil society should be allowed to operate freely and be actively involved in the “New Kuwait 2035” vision.
- Government agencies must prioritize the provision of data on which international indicators are based.
- The principles of governance, risk management, and internal audit systems should be implemented in the government sector.
- Transparency in the public procurement system should be ensured, and adherence to the Public Tenders Law should be enforced.
- The approval of the Penal Code, which criminalizes bribery in the private sector and foreign public employees, is crucial.
- The law must be enforced for all individuals, and verdicts in corruption cases should be issued promptly to hold accountable those involved in infringing public funds.
Al-Mutairi emphasizes the significance of the Public Authority for Anti-Corruption, which serves as the official national body for promoting transparency and combating corruption. The authority’s role is not to compete with the investigative frameworks within the judiciary but rather to provide technical assistance and specialized expertise in supporting the litigation process, particularly in cases involving the corruption of official frameworks and the infringement of public funds or harm to the public interest.
As Kuwait continues its journey towards greater transparency and integrity, the Kuwait Transparency Society remains committed to its mission of promoting anti-corruption efforts and improving Kuwait’s standing in international indicators. With the collaboration of the government and parliament, the necessary reforms can be implemented to create a more transparent and accountable society.
Source: TimesKuwait
