After AMAN’s Chairwoman Dr. Hanan Aschrawi introduced the Code of Conduct to the numerous NGOs, media representatives and other interested parties present, Dr. Kamal As-Shirafi, Director General of the Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights in Gaza, honored the strong determination of the members of the civil society. “NGOs do have a special impact on institutions and the society in the Gaza-Strip, sending out a clear message that people still continue to work for the establishment of a unified, democratic Palestinian state, Mr. As-Shirafi stated via videoconference from Gaza.

“As Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, it is part of our agenda for the Palestinian Territories to contribute to the creation of a constitutional democracy, based on transparency and the rule of law”, concluded Birringer.

In the subsequent ceremony alone, 85 NGOs signed the Code of Conduct. Many more NGOs, who were unable to attend the conference in Ramallah, are expected to join the group of signatories within the next weeks.

The compilation of a Code of Conduct on Transparency and Accountability for Palestinian NGOs and its enthusiastic reception by the Palestinian NGO-sector can be considered one of the greatest achievements of the Nazaha-project so far, and an important step towards a civil society without corruption.