Ref: 27/2018 

In participation of 23 members and volunteers, representing 5 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) active in the northern Gaza City, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded on Wednesday, 11 July 2018, a training course in the field of women’s rights/human rights. The 20-hour course was held in PCHR’s office in Jabalia from 08 to 11 July 2018.

The program of the course included an introduction to human rights, 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 Two Additional Protocols; United Nations Human Rights Committee; the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Universal Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women; gender issues, Mechanisms of Monitoring and Documenting Human Rights Violations, protecting women in times of armed conflicts, in addition to the Family Law’s role in protecting women’s rights.

A team of specialized trainers supervised the training sessions. The team included ‘Abdel Halim Abu Samrah, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit, Mona Shawa, Head of PCHR’s Women’s Unit, Mohammed ‘Atallah, a trainer at PCHR, Majeda Shehada, a researcher at PCHR’s Women’s Unit, Ahlam al-Aqra’, lawyer at PCHR’s Legal Unit, Aya al-Wakeel, lawyer at PCHR Women’s Rights Unit, and Mohamed Ghannam, a fieldworker at PCHR.

At the end of the course, PCHR organized a closing ceremony. Jaber Wishah, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, stressed PCHR’s efforts exerted on the long term to disseminate the culture of human rights in the Palestinian society. 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 also said that PCHR’s doors will always be open to participants in order to benefit from PCHR’s experience regarding the human rights, particularly women’s rights.

Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit, said that ” the course was characterized with the large number of participated organizations that PCHR cooperated with them for the first time, allowing PCHR to reach relatively new categories.” He added that this course was held in order to develop participants’ theoretical knowledge and provide professional skills that can contribute to a real change in the behavior of the society, which would lead to respect and protect women’s rights.

Ibtisam al-Basiouni, Director of al-Adham Society for Development-Beit Hanoun, stressed PCHR’s distinctive role in defending the rights of the Palestinians and disseminating the culture of women’s rights among the youth. She added that, “It is very important to hold joint activities with PCHR for its experience and good reputation in the field of human rights, particularly women’s rights.” Ibtisam also said that “the course was characterized with its rich topics and contributed to raising participants’ awareness of human rights and women’s rights; trainers’ efficiency and various and interactive training methods used in the course.”

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