Ref: 27/2012

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR)
Democratic Development Unit (DDU) organized two panel discussions on death
penalty under the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and on political
participation, in cooperation with a local organization and a youth group in
Gaza.

On Wednesday morning, 07 March 2012, the DDU
organized a panel discussion in the head office of the Palestinian Female
Graduates Association in Gaza City with 16 participants in attendance.  Mohammed Abu Hashem, a human rights activist,
presented a working paper on “Death Penalty under the PNA’s Rule”.
The participants were then given the opportunity to engage in discussions on
the concept of the death penalty, death penalty under international
instruments, death sentences and implementation of death penalty in
PNA-controlled territory and PCHR’s position towards the application of the death
penalty because it flagrantly violates the right to life, and constitutes a
form of torture and cruel and inhumane treatment and it does deter crimes.

The DDU organized another panel discussion on
Tuesday, 06 March 2012, on political participation, in cooperation with a youth
group active on Facebook with 20 participants in attendance. Mohammed Abu
Hashem presented a working paper on “Democracy and Political Participation
in the Palestinian Society”.

These meetings are 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.
 Such meetings are part of persistent efforts made by PCHR to promote
democratic awareness in the Palestinian community under the lack of the
Palestinians’ confidence in the democratic process due to the political
fragmentation and its consequences. 

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