Ramallah – In partnership with Sharek Youth Forum, the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) concluded events of the fourth class of the Integrity School. Held under the theme of Participate… Watch… Hold to Account, the Integrity School brought together 40 young men and women between 18 and 25 years of age. Participants were nominated by grassroots organisations from across Palestinian governorates. Held for three days, the Integrity School events took place at the Youth Village in Kafr Ni'ma, western Ramallah.
Activities of the Integrity School introduced young participants to the concept, major causes and consequences of corruption. AMAN is mindful of the need to engage all citizens, particularly the youth, in the anti-corruption activity and immunising them against various forms of corruption. AMAN aims for extensive public engagement in fighting corruption, effective community oversight, accountability for performance and public affairs, and a solid culture that is grounded in the values of integrity, principles of transparency, and systems of accountability. AMAN seeks to bridge the gap that has resulted from inaction of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Activities included trainings on various forms of corruption and provisions of the Anti-Corruption Law. A presentation reviewed some instances, including nepotism, favouritism, patronage, misappropriation, waste of public funds, etc. In addition to planning of accountability sessions, participants were introduced to the concept, tenets and tools of community accountability. A particular focus was placed on research methodologies and assessing the credibility of information by citing formal and reliable sources. Training sessions featured a presentation on the Civil Forum for Promoting Good Governance in the Security Sector, security index, and citizens opinion polls on satisfaction with the security sector services. A representative of the Police presented on the Police operations and services.
Participants in the Integrity School came up with main ideas for issues that impacted the youth. These were embraced and crystallised in the form of community accountability sessions. They will be implemented on a national accountability day to be held across the West Bank. In this context, participants will use the media tools they were trained on as well as social media platforms to achieve the desired impact.
Raising the awareness of, and engaging, the youth in the anti-corruption and community accountability efforts is of paramount of importance. Comprising the largest segment, the youth are the most impacted by corruption in society. At the national level, only the youth are capable of making a difference for good. Community efforts will be concerted by investing expertise and tools of partner institutions for common action and pressure to devise a nationwide change. The oversight role of partner institutions will also be enhanced by integrating systems and tools of promoting integrity and fighting corruption into relevant strategies, programmes of action, processes, and systems.
Engagement in the Integrity School and similar activities improves the youth’s participation in boosting integrity, transparency and anti-corruption efforts. In addition to invigorating the spirit of leadership among them, the youth will launch community initiatives, lead lobbying and advocacy campaigns, and ensure effective accountability within their own local communities as well as across the nation.
