SDG 16

Palestine

In 2018, AMAN, the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity, made an in-depth assessment of Palestine’s progress towards SDG 16.4, 16.5, 16.6 and 16.10.

The Palestinian government has made efforts to combat corruption in recent years, including amendments to the Anti-Corruption Law in 2017. Progress has also been made in the area of international coordination for the recovery of stolen assets and the enforcement of sentences and extradition of criminals, especially after Palestine joined Interpol in 2017.

Despite this, many challenges remain. The Judiciary and Prosecution suffer from a lack of independence, and anti-corruption efforts focus primarily on criminalization, not on prevention. Legal loopholes exist in the area of whistleblower protection and conflict of interest, while the financial disclosure statement system is ineffective – as are control measures regulating party finances and election campaigns.

AMAN’s full SDG 16 spotlight report on Palestine from 2018 is available for download here.

The spotlight report is based on responses to 159 indicators, split across 19 different thematic areas from anti-money laundering to whistleblowing, and grouped under one of four SDG 16 targets.

The underlying data for all indicators is available underneath the graphs below, which show the country’s aggregate score across the indicators grouped under that SDG 16 target. The scores relate solely to the legislative and institutional framework. Implementation and compliance are not scored, but rather assessed qualitatively.

SDG 16.4

Organised Crime and Illicit Flows

Recommendations

  1. Competent authorities need to cooperate with the Palestinian Foreign Ministry to conclude bilateral agreements with other countries on the exchange of information and the extradition of criminals as well as facilitation of corruption investigations.
  2. Institute the possibility to seize criminal yields in application of the Anti-Corruption Agreement in the Gaza Strip
  3. Establish a special unit, which enjoys full independence and access to all resources needed to coordinate efforts and follow up on recovery of stolen assets.
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SDG 16.5

Corruption and bribery

Recommendations

  1. Criminalize the act of bribing a foreign public servant or employees of international public organizations.
  2. Consider measures to disqualify individuals convicted with corruption crimes from holding any position in state-owned enterprises.
  3. Expand the mandate of the Anti-Corruption Commission, court and prosecution office to cover corruption cases in the private sector.
  4. Prepare a unified template on the areas of financing of electoral campaign, which the Election Commission shall submit to candidates to fill and return to the Commission.
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SDG 16.6

Transparent and accountable institutions

Recommendations
  1. Adopt a code of ethics for ministers, members of the Legislative Council to specify conflict of interest and how to handle gifts
  2. A competent or judicial agency needs to examine and audit data in financial declaration statements
  3. State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau needs to submit its reports on pre-set tim-ing to achieve transparency
  4. Prescribe the necessary procedures for e-procurement
  5. Pass a special regulation to protect individuals reporting on cor-ruption cases prescribed in the Anti-Corruption Law to ensure an effective witness protec-tion regime
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SDG 16.10

Access to information and protect fundamental freedoms

Recommendations

  1. Revisit the Publication and Printed Material Law and the Cyber Crimes Law to amend pro-visions restricting the exercise of public rights and freedoms.
  2. Halt blocking of websites of media outlets without judicial order.
  3. Amend the Palestinian Basic Law to include provisions on the right to access information and explicitly prescribe citizens’ right to access information from public agencies.
  4. Establish a public entity with financial and administrative independence to regulate access to information.
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