Ref: 22/2013

The training unit of the Palestinian
Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) had organized 3 meetings to raise awareness on
judicial remedy for Palestinian farmers in border areas, and the forth one
targeted Palestinian fishermen in Khan Yunis in March 2013.

Ahlam al-Aqra’, a lawyer at the PCHR’s
Legal Aid Unit, faciliated those meetings and focused on mechanisms of legal
aid that PCHR provides for fishermen and farmers, who are subject to human
rights violations.  She reviewed the
nature of the PCHR Legal Aid Unit’s work and explained the mechanisms used by
the unit to defend victims.  She also
mentioned a number of cases which PCHR managed to deal with and achieve
positive outcomes.  Al-Aqra’ called upon
farmers and fishermen to refer to PCHR if their rights are violated in order to
protect them.

On Tuesday, 26 March 2013, the last of
the those meetings was organized in al-Basha land, which is 1,000 meters away
from the border fence in Beit hanoun.  35
farmers and members of the local initiative members as well as a foreigner, who
was there by coincidence, attended the training course. Farmers felt
comfortable for attending the meeting on the farmland they work in and stressed
that it is the first time that an organization comes to their land and organize
such meetings.

Two meetings had been organized before
this one in Nidaa’ Falastin Charitable Association in Jabalia.  The first meeting was organized for 28 female
farmers on 15 March 2013, and the second one was organized for 19 male farmers.

It should be mentioned that a similar meeting
had been organized for fishermen in Khan Younis.  It took place in UNRWA Staff Club overlooking
the beach in Mawasi in Khan Younis on 23 March 2013.  14 fishermen attended this meeting.

These meetings are part of an 8-month
project funded by the Norwegian Refugee Council entitled “Improving Access to
Justice.”