Ref: 25/2018

On Thursday, 28 June 2018, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training course in the field of Child Rights and International Humanitarian Law with participation of 18 students from the American International School (AISG) in Gaza City.  The 20-hour course was held in the Lighthouse Restaurant’s hall from 24 to 28 June 2018 in the presence of Hashim Thalathini and Issa Saba, Members of PCHR’s Board of Directors.

The training course program covered the following topics: introduction to human rights, International Bill of Human Rights (the International Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convent on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convent on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights), Convention on the Rights of the Child, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, basic concepts in international humanitarian law, international protection for children in armed conflicts, Israeli violations against Palestinian children, violence against children,  gender-based violence; in addition to field visits to victims of human rights violations.

A team of specialized trainers supervised the training sessions. The team included  Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Head of PCHR’s Training Unit ; Mohammed ‘Atallah, a Coordinator at PCHR’s Training Unit; Ahlam al-Aqra’ and Mohamed al-‘Alami,  Lawyers at PCHR’s Legal Unit; Majedah Shehadah, a Researcher at PCHR’s Women’s Unit; and Mohammed Abu Hashem, a researcher at PCHR’s Democratic Development Unit.

In his concluding speech, Hashim Thalathini, Member of PCHR’s Board of Directors, confirmed PCHR’s long-term efforts to disseminate the culture of child’s rights and International Humanitarian Law among all segments of the Palestinian society, including children. He added that the relation between PCHR and the participants will not end at the end of the course, and should be strengthened afterwards. He further stressed that PCHR’s door is open to all Palestinians wishing to benefit from services provided by PCHR.

Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Head of PCHR’s Training Unit, emphasized that this course was held so that the participants would develop their theoretical knowledge, gain practical skills and contribute to creating a real change in the society’s behavior. A change that would lead to respect and protect the rights of the persons with disabilities and their right to work in the Palestinian territories through promoting their rights by integrating them in the society in

application of this category’s right to self-determination, plan for their future and achieve their aspirations represented in realization of their rights and enforcement of the laws and legislations on the ground, considering that children have their own entity and able to give. Abu Samra called upon the participants to contribute in disseminating the culture of child’s rights among their peers and shed light on their suffering.

At the beginning of his speech, Mahmoud Sourani, lawyer at AISG’s Legal Unit, presented an honor emblem to PCHR for it pioneer role in disseminating the culture of the human rights, particularly the child’s rights. Sourani emphasized that PCHR has accumulated experience and deep knowledge over the long years of work in the field of human rights. Sourani highlighted the continued relationship between the AISG and PCHR and the importance to develop it in order to serve students and to continue holding similar training courses, which help the students to develop their performance and promote their rights.

The participants emphasized the importance of holding such courses in the field of human rights to reach other categories of society for the importance of the subject and to benefit from PCHR’s experience in this field. Ahmed ‘Abdeen, a participant in the course, stressed that the course was distinguished with its rich topics and contributed to raising participants’ awareness of human rights; trainers’ efficiency and various and interactive training methods used in the course.

At the end of the ceremony, all participants received certificates.