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The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is a
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Gaza City. The
Centre is a non-profit company, dedicated to protecting
human rights, promoting the rule of law and upholding
democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(OPT). It holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC)
of the United Nations. It is an affiliate of the International
Commission of Jurists-Geneva,
the International
Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
– Paris, the Euro-Mediterranean
Human Rights Network -
Copenhagen, the International
Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC) –
Stockholm,
the World Coalition against the Death Penalty, and
the Arab
Organization for Human Rights –
Cairo. PCHR is a recipient of the 1996 French Republic
Award on Human Rights, the 2002 Bruno Kreisky Award for
Outstanding Achievements in the Area of Human Rights, the
2003 International Services Human Rights Award (UNAIS) and
the 2009 Human Rights Prize of Andalucia. The Centre was
established in 1995 by a group of Palestinian lawyers and
human rights activists in order to:
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Protect human rights
and promote the rule of law in accordance with
international standards.
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Create and develop
democratic institutions and an active civil society,
while promoting democratic culture within Palestinian
society.
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Support all the
efforts aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights in regard to
self-determination and independence in accordance with
international Law and UN resolutions.
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The work of the Centre is
conducted through documentation and investigation of human
rights violations, provision of legal aid and counseling for
both individuals and groups, and preparation of research
articles relevant to such issues as the human rights
situation and the rule of law. The Centre also
provides comments on Palestinian Draft Laws and urges the
adoption of legislation that incorporates international
human rights standards and basic democratic principles.
To achieve its goals, the Centre has recruited a committed
staff of well-known human rights lawyers and activists.
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