Ref: 40/2011

On
Thursday, 23 June 2011, the Training Unit of the Palestinian Centre for Human
Rights (PCHR), in cooperation with the Palestinian Liberal Youth Union (PLYU)
in the northern Gaza Strip concluded a training course in human rights and
democracy.  The 20-hour training course
was held in PCHR’s office in Jabalya in the period 19-23 June 2011.  There
were 26 participants from PLYU. It
should be noted that this course is the second of five training courses that
PCHR’s Training Unit agreed to conduct this year in cooperation with PLYU in
the five governorates of the Gaza Strip.

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.  Also covered in the course were
the topics of the independence of judiciary, the rule of law and democracy:
concept and practice.

The
training was conducted by a number of specialized trainers from PCHR: Khalil
Shaheen, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit; Dr.
Fadel al-Mzaini, a researcher in PCHR’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Unit; Sharif Abu Nassar, a lawyer in PCHR’s Legal Aid Unit; Majda Shihada, a
researcher in PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit; and Salah Abu Hatab, a social
researcher.

At
the conclusion of the course, Abdul Halim Abu Samrah, PCHR’s Public Relations
Officer, explained that this course was part of a long-term effort by PCHR to
promote human rights in the Palestinian society in cooperation with
community-based organizations.  Abu
Samrah added 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. Abu Samrah asked the participants to continue
to benefit from the services offered by PCHR; telling participants that all
people are welcomed. He hoped that the course would constitute the beginning of
a fruitful relationship between PCHR and civil society organizations, and people. Sa’ed al-Bis, Coordinator of PLYU in the
northern governorate, thanked PCHR for its role in promoting human rights and
democracy in the Palestinian society. He
also stressed the necessity of communication between PCHR and PLYU to conduct
workshops and training courses in the future.

The
participants highly appreciated PCHR’s efforts to disseminate the human rights
culture in Palestinian society. One of
the participants, Nedal Fayeq Meqdad, stressed that the course contributed to
raising the participants’ awareness of the concepts of human rights and
democracy, and that they are a need in the society rather an intellectual
luxury, particularly under the current conditions. He stressed that the course was distinguished
and was positively reflected on the participants. Meqdad asked the participants to apply what
they had learned in the course in the institutions where they work. Another participant, Amany Shabat,
appreciated the efficiency of trainers and the training methods, which
contributed to enriching effective participation and fruitful discussion.