Ramallah – In partnership with the Sharek Youth Forum (SYF), the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) launched the Youth Accountability Forum. Bringing together 35 young men and women, the Forum is the first of its kind in Palestine.
Ms. Intesar Hamdan, Director of Awareness Raising and Community Outreach at AMAN, explained that the “Youth Accountability Forum is a Palestinian civil voluntary youth body.” Membership of the Forum includes graduates of the Integrity Schools. With the participation of hundreds of young people, Integrity School classes were held over the course of eight seasons. The Youth Accountability Forum is based in the Youth Village, Kafr Ni'ma. According to Hamdan, the Forum seeks to contribute to preventing the risks of corruption in Palestinian society and devising joint solutions with relevant authorities for political, social, and economic issues.
Hamdan elaborated that the Youth Accountability Forum “works towards educating the youth and investing competencies of marginalised young people.” It increases youths’ knowledge and enhances their skills to monitor and hold decision makers to account. This will contribute to building Palestine as a civil democratic State that is free from corruption and committed to social justice and equality for all its of citizens.
Mr. Bader Zamareh, SYF Executive Director, said that launch the Youth Accountability Forum was part of the YSF and AMAN’s plan of action to promote the youth role in effective community engagement and control over public financial management and public administration. It promotes a culture of community accountability among, and encourage, the youth to engage in anti-corruption efforts. This is particularly the case in light of the poor system of formal accountability and oversight.
The constituent assembly of the Youth Accountability Forum includes members of Integrity School of different seasons. Supervised by SYF and AMAN, an election was held to choose members of the Forum board. The election was won by Bara’ Issa, Elyas Radwan, Rashid Abu Khader, Ranin an-Nather, Manal Saba’neh, Amjad Jum’ah, Usamah Bzour, Nagham Ayyad, Mohammed Useileh, and Mohammed Smour.
