Transparency Festival 2009: Launching of the NIS Study

The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability – AMAN – Transparency Palestine launched the National Integrity System (NIS) Country Study during its annual celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day. The event was held in Ramallah and Gaza under the slogan A Functioning National Integrity System is Immunity to Palestine.

One of the most prominent recommendations that emerged from the study was to maintain the level of commitment shown by the various Palestinian parties to adhere to the NIS as the basis for implementing the comprehensive national plan for combating corruption, adopted in December 2007.

Additional commitments required, that relate to the NIS, include promoting accountability and transparency in public work; working towards revising and/or issuing Palestinian legislation that coincide with the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption; and establishing an independent commission against corruption (an Illicit Gain Commission). Recommendations also dealt with tender issues within institutions as well as avoiding conflicts of interest and whistle blower protection among other issues.

As for the Palestinian judiciary, recommendations of the study called for the respect of this authority and emphasised the importance of its independence, especially from interference from the executive authority and its security apparatuses. The study also called for the continuation of support to maintain the image that emerged by the Palestinian Central Elections Commission and its role as a neutral tool in conducting general elections. Finally it called for support for the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau and to guarantee its independence.

The recommendations touched upon the role of civil society by calling on organisations to enhance values of integrity and accountability in its institutions as well as to play a role in raising awareness in Palestinian society. It also called on civil society organisations to develop and implement codes of conduct at work.

Finally, recommendations concerning local governmental bodies called for an increase in transparency of all their procedures, including their final audit and annual budgets and to implement codes of conduct drafted especially for local government employees and boards.

Dr. Azmi Shuaibi, AMAN Commissioner for Combating Corruption, stated in the opening session of the festival that “we are here to discuss the NIS study, which is one of the studies conducted simultaneously in three other Arab countries and sponsored by Transparency International”. “The purpose of conducting these studies is to form a general idea about the reality of the systems of integrity at the Arab level and examine the possibility of adopting a national integrity system as a preventive strategy for the fight against corruption in the long term” said Dr. Shuaibi.

He added that “the issue of fighting corruption is scattered within the Palestinian National Authority as there is no specialised institution within the framework of the authority for this purpose despite the existence of a public prosecutor, security services and a police force”. In addition, “investigations dealing with corruption seem to disappear when it comes to individuals in power, hence many cases are lost in this regard”.

Dr. Shuaibi explained that the study defines strengths and weaknesses in the “immune system” within the Palestinian community. It also aims at building a culture of intolerance for corruption by urging the general public to disclose corruption acts immediately and without delay.

Hanan Ashrawi, Chairperson of the Board at AMAN, said that since its establishment ten years ago, AMAN has succeeded in creating a culture that refutes corruption. And now it is contributing to the building of a national integrity system which is the most important requirement for good governance.

Dr. Ashrawi added that during the past ten years AMAN also continued to contribute to the development and strengthening of the capacity of civil society organisations in applying integrity, transparency and accountability at work. It conducted dozens of training courses on financial standards and sound management systems. It also carried out public education campaigns on the dangers of corruption as well as provided mechanisms for controlling it.

Within the same context, Dutch representative to the PNA and an AMAN core programme funder, Mr. Jack Twais, speaking on behalf of his government and that of Norway, said that the basis for sustainable development is the trust built between an institution and the public.

Mr. Twais reaffirmed that creating an anti-corruption culture and the protection of public funds and public property, in addition to combating nepotism and wasta is critical to attaining transparency. He also said that developing the role of civil society in monitoring public institutions is equally critical when one is trying to enhance transparency and accountability in any society.

Heads of parliamentary blocs at the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) who were invited to comment on the study agreed that strengthening the role of integrity and transparency is crucial in the fight against corruption.

Mr. Azzam al-Ahmad, head of Fatah's parliamentary bloc, stated that it is impossible to benefit from the study’s recommendations by building sound institutions before we have political stability, first and foremost to be free from the Israeli occupation.

Mr. Al-Ahmad also stressed the danger of the internal split describing it as the worst form of corruption embodied in having two authorities, two governments, and two entities. Another phenomenon of corruption, according to Al-Ahmad, is the international funders whom he deemed as sponsors of corruption in Palestine.

Khalida Jarrar, head of the List of Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa at the PLC, emphasised the need for reform on condition that it be purely Palestinian and not externally imposed. She also said that Palestinians must struggle for a democratic Palestinian society that is transparent in nature.

Mr. Jamal Nassar, representative of Hamas criticised the study in general saying that the research did not include the Gaza Strip and this was done without justification. He called for revising the study to include Gaza.

Mr.Qais Abdul Karim, head of Al-Badeel at the PLC said that the study is considered a draft document for the fight against corruption in Palestine and that it is vital to implement it in the systems of institutions in the various sectors of society

Abdel Karim added that the document did not include the situation in the Gaza Strip in regard to corruption hence the recommendations did not address methods of dealing with it. He called for a sincere political will in order to effectively implement the recommendations. He also stressed the importance of having a legislative council that is recognised by all in terms of reference and that it should not be a tool in the struggle for power.

For his part, Mustafa Barghouthi, head of the Palestinian National Initiative’s Independent Palestine list stated that the most prevalent forms of corruption in Palestine are nepotism and favouritism and not theft of public funds, which is faction based favouritism, which the report avoided looking into.

Barghouthi added that the PLC is the most effective body to fight corruption and that its marginalisation is the greatest crime against the Palestinian people.

At the end of the festival AMAN’s Integrity Awards were distributed to this year’s winners from various sectors of Palestinian society.