Ref: 09/2018

On Thursday, 01 March 2018, the Palestinian Center for human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training course in the field of human rights with participation of 28 members and volunteers representing 8 community-based organizations (CBOs) in Deir al-Balah. The 20-hour course was held in Heker al-Jame’a Youth Center in Deir al-Balah from 26 February to 01 March 2018.

The programs of the courses covered the following topics: introduction to human rights, International Bill of Human Rights (the International Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convent on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convent on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the two Additional Protocols and the Human Rights Committee), Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the rule of law, independence of judiciary, in addition to the Gender and Mechanisms of Monitoring and Documenting Human Rights Violations.

A team of PCHR’s trainers supervised the training sessions. The team included Majedah Shehadah, a Researcher at PCHR’s Women’s Unit; Sharif Abu Nassar, lawyer at PCHR’s Legal Unit; Mohammed ‘Atallah, a trainer at PCHR; Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit; and Yaser Abed al-Gafour, a field researcher at PCHR.

At the end of the course, PCHR organized a closing ceremony. Jaber Weshah,  Deputy chief of PCHR’s Board of Directors, stressed PCHR’s efforts exerted on the long term to disseminate the culture of human rights in the Palestinian society. Abu Samrah highlighted that the relationship between PCHR and the participants in the course should not end by the end of the course, but it should start from here and be enhanced. He added, “PCHR’s doors will always be open to participants in order to benefit from PCHR’s experience.”

Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit, said that ” the course was characterized with the large number of participated organizations that PCHR cooperated with them for the first time, allowing PCHR to reach relatively new categories.” He added that this course was held in order to develop participants’ theoretical knowledge and provide professional skills that can contribute to a real change in the behavior of the society in the field of human rights.

Mohammed Abu ‘Amrah, Secretary of the Board of Directors in Heker al-Jame’a Youth Center, emphasized PCHR’s role in defending the Palestinian human rights and disseminate the human rights culture among young people. Abu ‘Amrah added that, “It is very important to hold joint activities with PCHR for its experience and good reputation in the field of human rights.” Meanwhile, Hanan ‘Abed, a participant in the course stressed that, “the course was characterized with its rich topics and contributed to raising participants’ awareness of human rights; trainers’ efficiency and various and interactive training methods used in the course.”

At the end of the ceremony, all participants received certificates.