“The Code of Conduct was created by
Palestinian NGOs for Palestinian NGOS and
constitutes an important step towards more
transparency”, stated
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung resident
representative Thomas Birringer at a
conference on the occasion of the completion
of a Code of Conduct on Transparency and
Accountability for Palestinian NGOs held on
July 10th 2007 in Ramallah.
Various representatives of NGOs in the
Gaza-Strip took part in the meeting via
videoconference.
The Code of Conduct is part of the
Nazaha-project, implemented by the Coalition
for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) in
cooperation with the
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) to combat
corruption in the NGO sector and to
strengthen the Palestinian civil society
through enhancing accountability and good
governance as part of the European Union’s
“Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights”.
After AMAN’s Chairwoman Dr. Hanan Aschrawi
introduced the Code of Conduct to the
numerous NGOs, media representatives and
other interested parties present, Dr. Kamal
As-Shirafi, Director General of the Al-Mezan
Centre for Human Rights in Gaza, honored the
strong determination of the members of the
civil society. “NGOs do have a special
impact on institutions and the society in
the Gaza-Strip, sending out a clear message
that people still continue to work for the
establishment of a unified, democratic
Palestinian state, Mr. As-Shirafi stated via
videoconference from Gaza.
“As Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, it is part
of our agenda for the Palestinian
Territories to contribute to the creation of
a constitutional democracy, based on
transparency and the rule of law”, concluded
Birringer.
In the subsequent ceremony alone, 85 NGOs
signed the Code of Conduct. Many more NGOs,
who were unable to attend the conference in
Ramallah, are expected to join the group of
signatories within the next weeks.
The compilation of a Code of Conduct on
Transparency and Accountability for
Palestinian NGOs and its enthusiastic
reception by the Palestinian NGO-sector can
be considered one of the greatest
achievements of the Nazaha-project so far,
and an important step towards a civil
society without corruption.
