The youth inquire Customs Police about economic security role and operational mechanism
AMAN and Sharek Youth Forum organise Youth Summit 2022 with the participation of the Minister of Interior
Ramallah – Involving more than 60 young activists from across Palestinian governorates, and in partnerships with the Sharek Youth Forum (SYF), the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) launched the Youth Summit 2022. Held under the theme More Dialogue… Better Future, the event brought together the Minister of Interior and representatives of Palestinian security agencies.
The Youth Summit 2022 comprised a set of components. Most notably, the summit reviewed the achievements of previous Integrity School classes, organised by AMAN in collaboration with the SYF. A particular focus was placed on the eighth Integrity School class events. The Youth Summit 2022 centred around the Customs Police role in economic security, management of seized assets, and operational mechanisms. In successive accountability sessions, youth teams addressed inquiries to the Minister of Interior on the operations, means to enhance the performance and missions, and logistical support of the Customs Police with a view to ensuring more effective and efficient functions of the agency. The youth also stressed the need for accountability and lobbying to ensure that objects seized by the Customs Police are invested for the common good.
Major General Ziyad Hab ar-Rih, Minister of Interior, highlighted the importance of engaging the youth in the decision-making process and their right to exercise accountability. He stressed the Ministry of Interior (MoI) had a genuine will for openness and interaction with the youth and civil society organisations to serve the Palestinian people. Hab ar-Rih commended the Youth Summit 2022 and the role it plays in promoting the culture of oversight, accountability, and monitoring. Such events consolidate cooperation, participation, and integration with civil society groups. In addition to their significant role in the nation building process, the youth will be empowered to grasp the concepts of integrity and transparency. The minister pledged to hold necessary legal consultations with relevant bodies to consider the possibility of adopting the youth’s demands, particularly management of seizures in favour of marginalised and vulnerable groups.
Mr. Issam Haj Hussein, Executive Director of AMAN, commended the MoI and Customs Police for their openness, favourable response, and cooperation. Both interacted with, devoted time to meet with, and answer questions raised by the youth in open live sessions. Haj Hussein emphasised that the engagement of relevant bodies should be “a constant approach embraced by different decision-makers at our public institutions.” This will bolster confidence among the youth and citizens at large in the security establishment and the system as a whole.
According to Haj Hussein, the Youth Summit 2022 is a culmination of the strategic partnership between AMAN and SYF. As part of the eighth class of the Integrity School, this activity is aimed at promoting the culture of accountability among, and empower, the youth to exercise it as an inherent citizenship right. To serve the public interest, accountability is a pivotal outlet for engagement in public administration and control over decision-makers.
During the Youth Summit 2022, the Youth Accountability Forum was launched. This will serve as an incubator of young people who will hold officials to account for public administration and public financial management functions. The Summit final statement made several demands. Most notably, the legislative framework of the Customs Police operations needs to be strengthened. To this effect, necessary action will be taken to develop the performance, tasks, powers, and operational procedures of agency. Customs Police relations with relevant line ministries and government agencies will be scaled up. This will be carried out in partnership with civil society actors, private sector, academicians, and researchers.
