Ref: 18/2011

On 31 March 2011, the
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) Training Unit concluded a
training course on human rights and democracy in cooperation with the
Palestinian Progressive Youth Union (PPYU) in Khan Younis. The five-day course
took place in PCHR’s  office in Khan Younis. 30 participants who
are members of PPYU in Khan Younis received 20 hours of training between 27 and
31 of March 2011. This is the first of five training courses which are planned
by PCHR’s Training Unit in cooperation with PPYU in the five provinces of the
Gaza Strip.

The course covered
several international human rights agreements including the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and
the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The course also
addressed other topics such as the rule of law, the independence of the
judiciary and democracy in concept and in practice.

A team of specialized
trainers from PCHR including Majda Shehata, researcher at PCHR’s Women’s Rights
Unit, Sharif Abu Nassar, lawyer at PCHR’s Legal Unit, Bassam al-Aqra, Director
of PCHR’s Training Unit and Khalil Shahin, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights Unit, managed the training course.

In his closing speech,
Bassam al-Aqra explained that this training course is a part of ongoing efforts
made by PCHR to uphold human rights in the Palestinian society in cooperation
with civil society organizations. He also explained that it is a part of a
three-year project titled ‘Improving Awareness and Respect for Human Rights in
the OPT’ and funded by the European Union and Oxfam Novib. Al-Aqra invited the
participants to benefit from the services provided by PCHR, stressing that PCHR’s
doors are open to everyone. He said that he hopes that this training course forms
a continued constructive relationship between PCHR and other civil society
organizations and Palestinians.

Participants
appreciated PCHR efforts aimed at disseminating a culture of human rights in
Palestinian society. Hamed al-Najjar, one of the participants, said that the
training course contributed to raising participants’ awareness about human
rights and democracy. He explained that disseminating these two concepts is a pressing community need, especially
in these difficult times. He stressed that the course addressed vital topics
and noted that participants will gain positively from the experience. Al-Najjar
called upon the participants to transfer the knowledge they acquired to their
community. Hala al-Sadouni, a participant, praised the capabilities of the
trainers and the interactive training methods which were employed during the
training course. She added that the effective participations and discussions
which were allowed during the course contributed to enrich the course. She
complained that the training sessions were delayed in the morning as a number
of the participants arrived late.