The idea of monitoring public institutions in Kurdistan has been discussed for several years, but before (Pay), there was never a thorough and detailed monitoring of a crucial institution like Parliament.
The Kurdistan Parliament Monitoring Project’s primary and ultimate goal is to let the people of Kurdistan know how their representatives in Parliament are performing, and to establish transparency in parliamentary duties. By doing this, it aims to inform the general public about the core responsibilities of this important national institution—namely legislation, oversight, and budget approval—and how they are carried out. Through Pay, we hope to foster cooperation with Members of Parliament (MPs) and the parliamentary leadership by disseminating clear and detailed information about Parliament and its operations. In this way, we can identify which MPs and committees are active and which are not, and apply civic pressure on MPs who are failing to carry out their duties appropriately.
Parliamentary Monitoring Reports
So far, the Pay Foundation has published 21 reports, of which 18 were produced in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in the United States, and 3 were prepared independently by the Institute. Two of those reports were printed by the Union of Kurdistan Parliamentarians.
Will the Monitoring Project Continue from Now On?
People ask us this question as our monitoring reports continue to be published at a time when Parliament’s sessions have halted. Our answer is that the monitoring process covers all parliamentary activities. Right now, the sittings have stopped, but committees could still continue meeting. There are 10 draft laws in these committees on which no reports have been prepared and no action has been taken—some dating back to the beginning of the fourth term. Our central question here is: why are MPs not acting on the reports that were provided to them? At the start of this term, it was clear to everyone that the Parliament was inundated with proposals from its members. If any MP cites a lack of legitimacy or the absence of a formal parliamentary presidency as an excuse for not working, in our view this is far from reality—because some MPs on committees fail to carry out committee work, traveling abroad for personal affairs while still enjoying all the privileges of being an MP. Therefore, failing to work in committees and not fulfilling fundamental responsibilities must be recorded as unacceptable. Our task is to document this. Hence, we will continue doing so and fulfilling our responsibility.
How Did Parliament Receive the Project?
At the start of the fourth term, the monitoring project began, and the parliamentary leadership—particularly the Speaker of Parliament—showed full support. At the launch of the project, the Speaker said: “Parliament oversees public institutions, so it is good that we ourselves are monitored if we want to succeed in our work. I will support you in implementing this project.” At times, there were hurdles, but ultimately the project has been able to continue. Yet it concerns us that some MPs have not assisted with the project’s implementation; on the contrary, they have leveled accusations against us and attempted to undermine both the project and the Institute. At present, there is a legal case against one MP. This situation only underscores the project’s aim to bind MPs and voters together, and strengthen the link between public opinion and this national institution.
“Rwangay Pay” is the title of the latest component of the project, available on a website in both Kurdish and Arabic, and planned to be available in English as well. This website serves as an important hub for voters, researchers, and media professionals in Kurdistan. On this website, all information related to legislation, oversight, and budget approval will be uploaded, along with detailed records of each MP’s performance regarding every parliamentary duty. Through this platform, we can see how committed MPs have been in fulfilling their campaign promises, how far they have progressed in parliamentary tasks, and who has or has not succeeded in legislation and oversight. This platform is part of the Parliament Monitoring Project, supported by the U.S.-based (NED).
In Conclusion
The Pay Foundation for Education and Development will continue working on all of its projects— including monitoring Parliament and the Ministries of Education and Higher Education—which it has pursued for its entire existence. It will also strive to fulfill certain responsibilities of civil society organizations, serving as a point of reference for civic pressure.
