MIFTAH
Friday, 29 March. 2024
 
Your Key to Palestine
The Palestinian Initiatives for The Promotoion of Global Dialogue and Democracy
 
 
 

Ramallah – Dozens of activists and members of the Social and Political Active Palestinian Youth Network took to city centers in five West Bank districts to spread awareness among locals on the subject of combatting corruption and ways to blow the whistle on the corrupt.

All against corruption

The activity saw a number of Youth Network members and local residents interacting and discussing the subject, with many people voicing their opinions on corruption and the corrupt, maintaining the need to pursue them and mete out harsh punishments against them.

In Ramallah’s city center, Najwan Abu Najm and her colleagues from the Youth Network such as Hanin Shuaibi, Riziq Atawneh, Amjad Malki and Reem Ali along with a group of other youths and university students, were able to strike up conversations with people who were very eager to share their viewpoints on corruption. Abu Najm called on the people to report on corruption, telling them: “The address for your complaints is clear. You can come to us, the Youth Network and give us any information you have. Or you can go to the Anti-Corruption Commission and give them any information or documents you might have”. She then gave them a brochure on the Commission and contact information.

Of course, at first some were wary of discussing this matter while others were skeptical about the futility of whistleblowing. They were then given information and reading material that encouraged them to speak up about corruption. The brochures and leaflets reminded citizens that they had a social and national responsibility towards this issue. Still, one citizen known only as “Kimo” said to Abu Najm: “What guarantee can you give that these corrupt people will be held accountable? Can you guarantee they will be put on trial?” Abu Najm responded: “You must take the initiative and we will help you in that. You must do your part as a citizen; you should never shirk that responsibility.”

Similar scenes in other districts

The situation Abu Najm and her colleagues encountered was similar to the scene in Bethlehem. Network coordinator Shadi Zeidat led another group of Youth Newtwork members and activists in discussions with citizens, raising awareness of their role and responsibilities towards this matter. The same could be said of other districts including Hebron, Tulkarm and Nablus, where all the people were quick to express their anger at the corruption in the Palestinian society and the need to expose the corrupt and hold them accountable.

A social and monitoring role

In his talks with the public, Zeidat urged people to carry out their social and monitoring role, telling them they had a major responsibility in this regard. He explained to them that the easiest way was to go through the Youth Network and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

In Hebron, Youth Network members and activists Raed Atrash, Riziq Tmeizi, Asma’ Zghayar, Shuruq Breigheith, Ghassan Atawneh, Illan Breigheith and Hadeel Halayqah held similar conversations with locals. They discussed the concept of corruption, the extent of the people’s awareness about it and ways to combat it. People were bold and frank in their opinions on the subject, also expressing their hope that the corrupt would be seriously pursued and held accountable no matter their position or standing in society.

Atrash and his colleagues had meaningful discussions with the people in Hebron on their monitoring role, which the network members pointed out was one of the most significant methods of combatting corruption. In response to one of the citizen’s inquiries, Atrash said: “If you remain silent about corruption and the corrupt, you have helped it spread and have given the opportunity for corrupt individuals to remain in their position and continue practicing more corruption and theft of public funds.”

One citizen asked the pressing question: “To whom do we complain about corruption?” Another resigned to the notion that: “Everything is done through nepotism and favoritism, so who can guarantee to us that the corrupt will be put in jail?” Youth Network member Asma’ Zughayar answered: “The Network is one place you can turn to; the other is the Anti-Corruption Commission.” She then distributed brochures on ways to report on corruption.

Pursuing the corrupt

In Nablus, Hanin Ramadan and her colleagues – Ibrahim Ramadan, Nadim Oweis and Khaled Mashaqi – did not been confronted in spreading the word. Citizens of all ages flocked around them, listening to what they had to say, followed by discussions and debates and then questions about the subject. They wondered if each and every citizen could play a role in combatting corruption and asked about the mechanisms for reporting on corrupt individuals.

One citizen asked about the actual ability of the Youth Network to stand up against what they called ‘the fat cats of corruption.” Ramadan reminded them of the importance of their role as citizens in fighting this phenomenon so that eventually there could be an end to nepotism and favoritism and ultimately to corruption. “Do not hesitate to expose and report corruption,” she said to those skeptical of the process. “For our part, we will offer our guidance and help you to reach those who will listen to you and follow up on the information you offer.”

Field activities and training

Over a period of three months, the 30 Youth Network members who were distributed throughout five districts, carried out a series of activities and training in the field such as: a training of trainers course (ToT) on reviving the role of youth in combatting corruption.

According to Youth Network coordinator Shadi Zeidat, the interactive day was the climax of the second phase of MIFTAH’s project to revive the role of youth in combatting corruption. The project targeted a group of 25-30 youth activists from the Youth Network who had completed a six-day ToT course. Zeidat said four youth groups from Bethlehem, Hebron, Birzeit and Al Najah universities were given awareness workshops to increase their knowledge of the importance of their social role in combatting corruption and spreading a culture of whistleblowing.

Lamis Shuaibi: raising social awareness

Program Director for the social participation enhancement at MIFTAH Lamis Shuaibi said the organization’s interventions are in line with MIFTAH’s mission to promote the principles of democracy and good governance in Palestinian society and to influence official and public local opinion through interactive debate, thereby empowering leadership components in society to raise social awareness towards citizens’ rights and duties.

Dr. Lily Feidy: a stepping stone for organized youth efforts

MIFTAH CEO Dr. Lily Feidy said the Palestinian Youth Network is a stepping stone and foundation for organized youth efforts and is based on specific strategic visions and approaches, far removed from the principle of actions and reactions. Feidy said MIFTAH was looking forward to continuing its work with the network through building an integral action program that reflects the active social role of youth. This will be implemented through interventions and activities aimed at raising social awareness on corruption and ways of combatting it. Through investing in the Youth Network, MIFTAH is looking to develop the cognitive and social awareness skills among youth on combatting corruption, promoting mechanisms for social accountability through advocacy and lobbying campaigns against corruption and expanding the youth network on combatting corruption through the media.

 
 
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