jordan pulse -
The chief of the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission, Dr. Mahand Hijazi, called on the international community to take serious action to prevent and stop further heinous crimes against the Palestinian people. He emphasized the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on their homeland, with Jerusalem as its capital.
Dr. Hijazi made this statement during the opening session of the fifth conference of the Arab Convention Against Corruption, which commenced today at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo. He highlighted that this conference convenes under critical circumstances affecting the entire Palestinian cause and the Arab region, urging us all to stand united and resolute in confronting these challenges.
During the conference, which is currently being presided over by Palestine, Dr. Hijazi emphasized that the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission operates within a legal and institutional framework, with responsibilities encompassing all anti-corruption activities and law enforcement. To efficiently fulfill this role, the commission has activated a system of values and behavioral rules within public administration institutions to ensure adherence to principles of good governance and prevent misuse of financial resources.
Dr. Hijazi further underscored the importance of national roles and shared responsibility in combating corruption, aiming to achieve professionalism and a national environment that opposes corruption. Over the past four years, the commission has adopted a qualitative approach to combat corruption, enhance preventive tools, and strengthen law enforcement capabilities. This collaborative effort involves strategic partners from public administration institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations, taking into account both local and international developments.
Notably, 70% of the projects within the updated National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2025 focus on corruption prevention. In the field of law enforcement, the commission has achieved its objectives, with a 58% increase in the separation of investigative files and an 83% alignment between judicial rulings and investigation outcomes. Complaints related to corruption have decreased by 55%, and the recovery of misappropriated public funds resulting from corrupt acts—whether through judicial judgments, reconciliations, or halted projects—has increased.
In a related context, during his participation in the Arab Forum held by the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission on the sidelines of the fifth conference, Mr. Mohammed Al-Akour, Director of Operations at the commission, discussed the main themes of the updated national strategy for combating corruption (2020-2025). He highlighted the success of the National Integrity Index, launched by the commission in 2022. This index serves as a scientific tool to measure compliance and commitment of public administration institutions to national integrity standards. It not only assesses compliance but also aids institutions in identifying areas for improvement and detecting vulnerabilities conducive to corrupt practices. The commission plans to implement the second cycle of the index in 2024.
It’s important to note that the conference, attended by relevant ministers from Arab countries, as well as representatives from international and regional organizations, will address various topics related to anti-corruption efforts .