General Committee Meeting of the Baader Youth Council in Jericho

Over 100 young students, chosen to be the members of the Baader Youth Council (BYC), gathered on March 22nd in Jericho to hold their second general committee meeting.Baader is a joint youth initiative of the International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC) Jerusalem and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Ramallah. It aims at promoting the role of the youth in the democratic process, to develop the decision-making-skills of future executives, to reduce gender-related barriers and thus to assist in the building of a pluralistic and viable Palestinian civil society.

Majority is Satisfied with the Make Up of the Unity Government

The recent poll of the PSR in cooperation with KAS Ramallah shows that 88% of the Palestinians are content with the establishment of the new unity government. 48% of the population would like to see the unity government accept the criteria of the Quartet. According to 43% of the Palestinian population top priority of the new government should be the enforcement of law and order.

Financial and Administrative Standards for the NGO-Sector

In the scope of a recently accomplished study by the Nazaha Project, a catalogue of financial and administrative standards was compiled.

Sawt Al-Nissa, No. 261

The Mothers Day issue states that two female ministers are not enough for the new Unity government. There should also be legislative reforms concerning the criminal laws that prevent Palestinian mothers from seeing their children in Israeli prisons. Also, Sawt Al-Nissa expresses concerns that the government could loose its direction towards unifying the political parties.

Neue Regierung der Palästinensischen Autonomiebehörde

„Regierung der Nationalen Einheit“

Die neue palästinensische Regierung muß als instabil gelten. In vielen Fällen, insbesondere aber bei der Haltung zu Israel, wurden die entgegen gesetzten Positionen der beteiligten Parteien nicht durch inhaltliche Kompromisse zusammengeführt. Sie bleiben weiterhin bestehen. KAS-Mitarbeiter Thomas Birringer berichtet aus Ramallah.

Three new Brochures of the Nazaha-Project Released

The Nazaha-project aims at improving and strengthening of good governance in the NGO-sector in the Palestinian Territories. The project is implemented jointly by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and its Palestinian partner AMAN (Coalition for Accountability and Integrity).Three brochures were recently released within the framework of this project. They primarily address NGOs in order to provide them with information about targets, strategies and guidance to help combating corruption and bribery.

Sawt Al-Nissa, No. 260

Published on the 8th of March, International Women’s Day, Sawt Al-Nissa focuses on the role of the Palestinian woman today. Different aspects are education, culture and social-life of females in Palestine. Furthermore, the magazine draws the picture of how the ideal Unity government should look like.

Sawt Al-Nissa, No. 259

The difficulties that Palestinian woman are facing when they want to visit their children in prison is a topic addressed by this edition of Sawt Al-Nissa. “The mothers of the prisoners are in prison, too”, is the magazines provocative heading with reference to legal obstacles that family relatives are facing if the ask for visiting-permits to prisons. Additionally, the magazine covers a story about the first Women’s legal consulting firm that was established in Gaza.

Public Opinion Poll on NGOs in Palestine

First Booklet Published

A public opinion survey concerning the state of Palestinian NGOs and charities, conducted by the Nazaha project for strengthening Palestinian civil society through enhancing transparency in the NGO sector revealed that 53% of Palestinians believe that nepotism and its related forms are the most prevalent forms of corruption in NGOs and that 70% of Palestinians believe that NGOs & charities do not disclose their financial, administrative, or program related information to the public.

Third Issue of the Newsletter “Nazaha/Integrity” Published

The third edition of the newsletter “Nazaha/Integrity” has been published, tackling the relations between Palestinian NGOs and the donor community as well as other issues concerning integrity, transparency and accountability within the NGO sector in Palestine. The newsletter is published regularly in the framework of the Nazaha project.