Ref: 9/2012

 On Thursday, 26 January 2012, the Training Unit of the Palestinian
Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), in cooperation with the Creative Woman Society
(CWS) in Gaza City, concluded a training course in human rights.  The
20-hour training course was held in CWS’s office in Gaza City in the period 22
– 26 January 2012, with 31 members of CWS 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; 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, the rule of law, political
participation and gender.

The training was conducted by a number of specialized trainers from
PCHR: Hanan Matar, a lawyer in PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit; Ahlam al-Aqra’, a
lawyer in PCHR’s Legal Aid Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training
Unit; and Khalil Shahin, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights Unit, in addition to Dunia al-Amal Ismail, a writer and researcher.

Bassam al-Aqra’ 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 for human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  Al-Aqra’ added that this course is 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.

At the conclusion of the course, Bassam al-Aqra and Fatima Ashour
distributed certificates to participants.