Fostering cooperation and deepening mutual understanding among key Palestinian criminal justice stakeholders and civil society in view of the establishment of a functioning and sovereign Palestinian state is high on the EU agenda.

This is why EUPOL COPPS on 3-5 December organised “Building Bridges in Bethlehem”, a three-day workshop aiming at creating a strategic network between Palestinian entities representing the whole criminal justice chain and other key social actors, playing a central role in promoting rule of law, stability, trust, and community cohesion.

The Palestinian Civil Police (PCP), the Justice institutions (Courts and prosecutors), and essential partners such as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Palestinian Bar Association (PBA) and The Environment Quality Authority (EQA) participated in the event, in addition to several EU representatives.

The sessions focused on targeted, cross-sectional discussions and provided deeper insights and understanding of how to fight back log problems across the criminal justice chain, increased knowledge of practices related to handling and management of criminal evidence at crime scenes,  enhanced local investigative practices to investigating domestic violence cases, gave increased understanding of the environmental hazards and safety risks and improved understanding and practical application of Community Policing principles within the PCP and on ways to strengthening a sustainable partnerships between the PCP and Civil Society Organizations, resulting in coordinated efforts that support community safety and trust.

Commenting on the need for inter-institutional cooperation along the criminal justice chain, Karin Limdal, Head of EUPOL COPPS, said during the inauguration of the event that “Police work is going nowhere without prosecution, courts, penitentiary, civil society and a legislative framework”.

Brigadier Mohammad Tayyem, who represented Chief of Palestinian Civil Police, commended EUPOL COPPS efforts in organising the Bethlehem event which would contribute to “developing mechanisms for mutual cooperation and coordination” between the PCP and the other criminal justice sector institutions and to improve the services presented to the public in line with international standards.   

The PCP, judges, prosecutors, lawyers and CSOs, expressed their gratitude towards EUPOL COPPS and underlined that the workshop had contributed to building trust and knowledge within the criminal justice chain. They stressed that they are looking forward to transforming the insights and knowledge gained into actions and real mechanisms and asked for more cross-sectoral events like this.

Within the framework of the EU action in Palestine, EUPOL COPPS plays a key role as a facilitator of cooperation and adviser on reforms within the security and justice sectors.

As part of this mandate, EUPOL COPPS will continue to facilitate exchanges between criminal justice actors and civil society also in other West Bank districts, and share advice and knowledge to fostering stability, transparency, and community engagement.