Ref: 16/2017

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded on Tuesday, 18 April 2017, a training course in the freedom of opinion and expression/human rights for 26 Media and Political Science students at the Islamic University’s Faculty of Commerce. The 20-hour training was held in PCHR’s head office in Gaza City from 04 to 18 April 2017.

The training program was specifically designed for the targeted group. It focused on the freedom of opinion and expression and the mechanisms of observing and documenting the human rights violations, 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, gender, basic concepts of international humanitarian law and the role of human rights organizations in promoting the freedom of movement and the right to health (PCHR for example).

A team of specialized trainers supervised the training sessions. The team included Majeda Shehada, a researcher at PCHR’s Women’s Unit; Ahlam Meimah, a lawyer at PCHR’s Legal Unit; Mohammed Bseiso, a lawyer at PCHR’s Legal Unit; Mohammed Atallah, a trainer at PCHR; Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit; and Mohammed Ghannam, fieldworker at PCHR.

At the end of the course, PCHR organized a closing ceremony.  Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of the Training Unit, stressed that this training was designed to meet the interests of the participants, who were university students. Moreover, the course lasted for 2 weeks and shed light on the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the mechanisms to observe and document human rights violations.  Al-Aqra’ 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 what they have learnt.

Heba Abu Halima, a lecturer at the Islamic University and one of the participants, highlighted the importance of holding such activities for PCHR’s rich experience and reputation in the field of human rights. Mas’oud Mortaja, coordinator of the group and another participant, 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.