Ref: 12/2012

On Thursday, 09 February 2012, the Training
Unit of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training
course on human rights targeting students from the Faculty of Law at al-Azhar
University in Gaza City.  The 20-hour training course was held in PCHR’s
head office in Gaza City in the period 05 – 09 February 2012, with 20 students
in attendance.

The course focused on a number of international
human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; the Declaration on
the Right to Development; and Universal Declaration on the Elimination of
Violence against Women.  The course also covered other topics such as the
rule of law, independence of the judiciary and gender issues.

The training was conducted by a number of
specialized trainers from PCHR: Muna al-Shawa, Director of PCHR’s Women’s
Rights Unit; Majda Shihada, a researcher in PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit; Ahlam al-Aqraa,
a lawyer in PCHR’s Legal Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training
Unit; Khalil Shahin, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Unit; and Dr. Fadel al-Muzeini, a researcher in PCHR’s Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights Unit.

Jaber Wishah, PCHR’s Deputy Director, explained
that this course is part of a 3-year project, funded by the European Union and
Oxfam Novib, whose goal is to improve awareness and respect of human rights in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 
Wishah added that this course was part of long-term efforts exerted by
PCHR to promote human rights in the Palestinian society in cooperation with
community-based organizations.  He
further asked the participants to continue to benefit from the services offered
by PCHR to everyone, hoping that this course would constitute continuation of
the constructive relationship between PCHR, civil society organizations and
beneficiaries.  Wishah expressed his
hopes for the participants to become lawyers who are experts and researchers in
defending human rights. 

The participants highly appreciated PCHR’s
efforts to disseminate human rights culture in the Palestinian society.  One of the participants, Hanin Saleh, said
that the course contributed to raising the participants’ awareness of the
concepts of human rights.  She added that the course was characterized by
the variation of its topics in spite of the intensity of the training
material.  Another participant, Murad Abu
Ghoula, Chairman of the Faculty of Law’s Club, appreciated the efficiency of
trainers and the training methods, including effective participation and

discussion, which contributed to enriching the
course.  He called for the organization
of similar courses for other students who are members in the Faculty of Law’s
Club.

At the conclusion of the course, Wishah
distributed certificates to participants.