Ref:
12/2014

On 17 March 2014, the Training Unit of the Palestinian Centre for
Human Rights (PCHR) organized a one-day training course on human rights,
mechanisms of access to justice and judicial remedy for Palestinian fishermen
in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

The 4-hour training was held in the Fishermen Union’s office in the
new fishing port in Rafah and was facilitated by Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director
of PCHR’s Training Unit. It was attended by 23 fishermen working in Rafah.

The training was divided into 3 sessions. Mr. al-Aqra’ gave a brief
summary about PCHR and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). He addressed the
concept of human rights and how it developed. In the second session, Mr. al-Aqra’
tackled the concept of the right to adequate housing, land and property under
international humanitarian  and human
rights law, focusing on the requirements of adequate housing.

The third session covered mechanisms of justice and means of
judicial remedy for fishermen. Moreover, it introduced the work of PCHR’s Legal
Aid Unit and explained the mechanisms to defend victims. Mr. Al-Aqra’ also
addressed the importance of monitoring and documenting human rights violations,
especially those perpetrated against fishermen. He highlighted a number of
cases related to violations of fishermen’s rights that were legally successfully
followed up by PCHR. Furthermore, he pointed to monthly factsheets issued by
PCHR to document and expose Israeli violations against fishermen.

At the end of the training, questions were raised by fishermen and
legal consultations were offered. Al-Aqra’ advised the fishermen to go to PCHR
in case their rights are violated in order to receive legal assistance and
follow-up for their cases.

These training courses are part of an 8-month joint project titled
“Improving Access to Justice.” It is implemented by PCHR and NRC and targets
farmers and fishermen in the Gaza Strip.