Training Day on the Role of the Public Employee in Administrative Reform and Combating Corruption
Youth Center in Medenine, October 31, 2019
In partnership with the National Authority for Combating Corruption, the Creative Youth Association organized a training day on the role of the public employee in administrative reform and combating corruption. The event was targeted at assistants and employees of regional administrations in Medenine, civil society representatives, and members of local associations active in the region.
The training day was divided into three presentations:
- The first presentation addressed the “Right to Access Information.”
- The second presentation focused on “Reporting Corruption, Disclosing Benefits, and Conflict of Interest.”
- The third presentation addressed “Legal Issues in Corruption Crimes.”
Summary of the Presentations
1) First Presentation:
“The Right to Access Information” was delivered by the Head of the Private Law Department at the Higher Institute for Legal Studies in Gabes, Dr. Bassem Al-Habib.
- The presentation reviewed the legal texts governing the right to access information, its connection to the protection of personal data, and its relationship with other related concepts.
- The relationship between the Access to Information Authority, administrative mechanisms, and procedures for submitting requests for access to information was also discussed.
- The session concluded with recommendations on overcoming practical challenges and supporting participatory pathways to effectively implement this right.
2) Second Presentation:
“Reporting Corruption, Disclosing Benefits, and Conflict of Interest” was delivered by lawyer and legal researcher Mr. Ramzi Mohamed.
- This presentation dealt with the legal framework for combating corruption and various forms of corruption, including abuse of public funds, bribery, and misuse of power in inappropriate contexts.
- The issue of reporting corruption was discussed, covering the conditions for reporting, the qualified authorities responsible for handling the reports, and the protection of whistleblowers through guarantees provided by the Anti-Corruption Authority. These guarantees include preventive and other deterrent measures.
- The session concluded with a focus on the law regarding the declaration of assets, conflicts of interest, and its alignment with the overall approach to combating corruption.
3) Third Presentation:
“Legal Issues in Corruption Crimes” was delivered by the Deputy Prosecutor of the Primary Court in Medenine, Head of the Southern Studies Forum, and Chair of the Legal Culture Forum, Professor Mansour Shalni.
- The presentation explored the legal framework for corruption crimes, the diverse relationships within these crimes, and the challenges faced by administrative bodies in dealing with these cases.
- The issue of balancing accountability with the protection of human rights was also addressed, considering the difficulty of finding a balance between these aspects.
- Furthermore, the presentation highlighted the specifics of evidence in corruption cases and what distinguishes it from evidence in other crimes.
Recommendations and Suggestions:
The training day witnessed positive interaction between the participants and the speakers, leading to some remarks and actionable suggestions:
- Developing Administrative Structures
- Aligning them with state strategies and related legislation in the field of the right to information and combating corruption.
- Coordination and Role Identification
- Ensuring synergy between anti-corruption bodies and administrative structures supporting access to information.
- Evaluating Effectiveness
- Assessing the feasibility and efficiency of plans for facilitating access to information, including handling suspected corruption reports within an independent framework.
- Empowering Employees
- Encouraging the empowerment of employees and activating their roles in these processes, recognizing them as key to achieving progress and addressing them as an asset rather than a burden on state resources.
Message from the Creative Youth Association:
First, we would like to thank the attendees, regional representatives, and members of civil society organizations for their positive interaction throughout the training day.
Second, we extend our gratitude to Mr. Khalifa Al-Ezzi for facilitating the session and his continuous support for the Creative Youth Association and its various activities.
Third, we sincerely thank the professors and speakers:
- Dr. Bassem Al-Habib,
- Professor Mansour Shalni, and
- Professor Ramzi Mohamed,
for their insightful contributions, as well as the Southern Studies Forum for their collaborative approach in enabling such activities.
We appreciate their efforts to foster participatory work and knowledge sharing in areas critical to legal development and civic engagement.
