Ref: 35/2009

Date: 22 July 2009

PCHR Organizes Two Panel Discussions on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression and the Right to Peaceful Assembly in Gaza City

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) Democratic Development Unit (DDU) organized two new panel discussions in cooperation with local civil society organizations on the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly.

On Wednesday, 22 July 2009, PCHR organized a panel discussion titled “The Right to Peaceful Assembly under the Rule of the Palestinian National Authority” in PCHR’s office in Gaza City. The meeting was held in cooperation with Sharek Youth Forum. Twenty male and female university students, new graduates and activists in Sharek Youth Forum participated in the panel discussion.

The meeting was facilitated by Salah Abu Hatab, social activists. Mahmoud al-Efranji, a researcher at PCHR’s DDU, presented a paper on “The Right to Peaceful Assembly under the Rule of the Palestinian National Authority.” The participants were then given the opportunity to participate in discussions on the concept of peaceful assembly, international standards and laws regulating the right to peaceful assembly and the status of the right to peaceful assembly under the rule of the Palestinian National Authority.

On Monday, 20 July 2009, PCHR organized a panel discussion in cooperation with Hadaf Center for Human Rights, on “The Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression under Rule of the Palestinian National Authority.” Approximately 25 male and female university students, new graduates and volunteers at Hadaf Center participated in the panel discussion that took place in the office of Hadaf Center. Salah Abu Hatab, a social activist, facilitated the discussion, while Mahmoud al-Efranji, a researcher at PCHR’s DDU, presented a paper on “The Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression under the Rule of the Palestinian National Authority.”  The participants were then invited to participate in discussions on the concept of freedom of opinion and expression, international standards and laws regulating freedom of opinion and expression and the status of the right to freedom of opinion and expression under the rule of the Palestinian National Authority.

These meetings are a part of a series of activities organized by PCHR, in cooperation with other civil society organizations, which aim to enhance and develop democracy in the Palestinian society.  These meetings seek to raise public awareness with respect to the principles of democracy, and to strengthen and enhance these principles in Palestinian society.  PCHR considers such activities as essential in light of Palestinians’ deteriorating faith in the democratic process.  Such deterioration has arisen consequent to the international community’s boycott of the results of the Palestinian legislative elections of January 2006 and as a result of the internal political fragmentation and its consequent destructive impacts on the Palestinian national cause.