Report on Monitoring the State of the Rule of Law in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region (2024)

Abstract

This report provides a comprehensive baseline assessment of the state of the rule of law in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region for the years 2023–2024, prepared by the MAFF Network for Justice and Democracy under the leadership of the Investigators Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy (IOL) and with support from Norwegian People's Aid (NPA). Grounded in the World Justice Project (WJP) framework, the document evaluates eight core dimensions including constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice. Ultimately, the report highlights systemic administrative gaps, delays in digital governance, and challenges surrounding public trust, recommending critical legislative reforms such as the Right to Access Information Act, the digitization of public administration, and the strengthening of judicial independence and correctional services.