'On the Front Line' is a new documentary from highlighting the excellent work of Palestinian anti-corruption activists in offering legal assistance to individuals and organisations. The film is timely, given tectonic shifts in the Middle East and the development of Palestinian institutions.
Over half of all Palestinians using government services reported having to pay a bribe according to TI's 2010 Global Corruption Barometer. Without a dedicated complaint channel and expert advice, most people can do little to counter the problem. That is why TI has set up legal advice centres in Palestine and in many other countries.
'On the Front Line' looks, among others, at the story of a Ministry of Transport employee who, together with the centre, has led a campaign to crack down on the misuse of government cars for private purposes, resulting in many millions of dollars in savings for the Palestinian Authority.
The film also interviews a man whose two sons were shot by a renegade policeman who long managed to evade the law, as well as a civil servant who was denied severance pay and medical benefits after falling victim to a political shakeup.
The centre helps bring the discussion of corruption into the open. This discussion is fundamental to the centre's success and to establishing robust corruption prevention policies.
