Ref: 20/2014

On Tuesday, 06
May 2014, the Training Unit of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
concluded a training course in human rights and democracy for the Somow Youth
Group in the Gaza Strip.  The 20-hour
training course was held in PCHR’s head office in Gaza City in the period of 22
April – 06 May 2014.  30 persons participated
in the course.

The program of
the course covered a number of international human rights instruments,
including 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;
Universal Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women; in addition
to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.

A team of
specialized trainers supervised the training sessions.  The team included Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’,
Director of PCHR’s Training Unit; Fadel Muzeini, a researcher at PCHR’s
Economic, Social and Cultural Unit; Sharif Abu Nassar, a lawyer at PCHR’s Legal
Aid Unit; Mona al-Shawwa, Director of PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit; Majidah
Shehadah, a researcher at the Women’s Rights Unit; and Mohammed Abu Hashem, a
community activist.

In the
concluding speech, Basam al-Aqra’emphasized that this course is part of PCHR’s
long-term efforts to promote human rights in the Palestinian society.  Al-Aqra’ added that the relation with the
active youth groups in the Gaza Strip is very important as PCHR pays a special
attention to their  members through
organizing training courses for them in order to raise their awareness and
knowledge and develop their skills in the field of human rights and
democracy.  Al-Aqra’ called upon trainees
to benefit from the PCHR’s services and emphasized that PCHR’s doors are open
to everyone.  He expressed the hope that
this course would result in a new fruitful beginning for a relationship between
PCHR and the participants.

At the
conclusion of the course, the participants highly appreciated PCHR’s efforts to
enhance respect for human rights in Palestinian society and thanked it for its
quick response to students’ request to organize this training course.  Mohammed Abu Shahla, a participant in the course,
said that this course contributed to raising the participants’ awareness of the
principles of human rights and international humanitarian law, and was
characterized by its diverse topics and rich information. He said that active
participation and discussion during the training sessions enriched the course.

All
participants received certificates at the end of the day.