Ref: 32/2007

Date: 11 June 2007

4^th Training Course Organized by PCHR in Coordination with Ministry of Youth and Sports Continues for the 2^nd Day

In spite of the severe security situation in Rafah, on Monday, 11 June 2007, PCHR and Guidance and Rehabilitation Department at the Ministry of Youth and Sports have continued the 4^th of 5 training courses on human rights for the second consecutive day. The 18-training hours course is being held at Rafah Municipal Library, and 33 trainees representing 10 civil society organizations in Rafah are participating in it. The 5-day course will be concluded on 14 June 2007.

The training course covers a variety of human rights topics, including the International Bill of Human Rights (Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Covenant on Economic, social, and cultural rights; Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), Second Protocol Additional to the Convention against the Death Penalty, International Criminal Court, Conventions on the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; gender; the rule of law; and the independence of the judiciary.

The training is conducted by a team of specialized trainers from PCHR that include: Lawyer Sharif Abu Nassar from the Legal Aid Unit; Sameer Hasaniya and Majda Shihada from the Women’s Rights Unit; Bassam al-Aqra from the Training Unit; and Hamdi Shaqqura from the Democratic Development Unit. Dr. Bassam Abu Hashish, a lecturer at al-Aqsa University in Gaza, also contributes to the training. The trainers use several training techniques that enhanced effective participation and fruitful discussion.

It is worth noting that PCHR and the Ministry of Youth and Sports conducted 3 similar training courses in Gaza City, the northern Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis earlier this year. Such courses target youth community leaders who are volunteers and activists at NGOs and members of student bodies throughout the Gaza Strip.