Ref: 71/2011

On Thursday, 27 October 2011, the Training Unit of the Palestinian
Center for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training course organized in
cooperation with Doha Centre for Media Freedom – Palestine (DCMF). The 20-hour course was held in the DCMF’s
office in Gaza City in the period 23-27 October 2011, and was attended by 17
media professionals. 

The program of the course included a number of international human
rights instruments: The International Bill of Human Rights (the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights);
the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and
Universal Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women; in addition
to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful
assembly and gender issues.

The training was conducted by a number of specialized trainers from
PCHR: Muna Shawa, Director of PCHR Women’s Rights Unit; Majeda Shihada, a
researcher in PCHR Women’s Rights Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR
Training Unit; Mahmoud Efranji, a researcher in PCHR Democratic Development
Unit; Ghadeer Omari, PCHR Newsletter Editor; and Fadel Mzeini, a researcher in
PCHR Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit.

Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training Unit, stated that this
course is part of PCHR’s long-term efforts to promote human rights in the
Palestinian society, in cooperation with civil society organizations.  He
added that this course was 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.  Al-Aqra’ asked the
participants to continue to benefit from the services offered by PCHR; telling
participants that all people are welcomed. He called for having journalists
specialized in reporting on the human rights situation depending on PCHR as a
source of information in this regard. 

The participants highly appreciated PCHR’s efforts to disseminate
human rights culture in the Palestinian society.  One of the participants,
Asmaa’ al-Az’ar, emphasized that the course contributed to raising the
participants’ awareness of the concepts of human rights.  She added
that the course was characterized by the variety of subjects it addressed, even
though it was short. Another
participant, Mohammed ‘aklouk, appreciated the efficiency of trainers and the
training methods, including effective participation and discussion, which
contributed to enriching the course. He called for organizing more similar
courses. 

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For more information, please contact the Palestinian Centre for
Human Rights at pchr@pchrgaza.org or
+972-(0)8-282