Ref: 35/2011

On Thursday, 26
May 2011, the Training Unit of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
and Association of Tawasol Center for Youth and Culture in Rafah concluded a
training course on human rights. The 20-hour training course was held in the
Association’s hall in Rafah from 22-26 May 2011. There were 23 participants representing
community-based organizations in Rafah.

The course
focused on a number of international human rights instruments, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights; the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights; Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;
Universal Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. Also
covered in the course were the topics of the independence of judiciary, the
rule of law, political participation and gender.

The training
was conducted by a number of specialized trainers from PCHR: Majda Shhada, a
researcher in PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit; Sharif Abu Nassar, a lawyer in PCHR’s
Legal Aid Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit; and Khalil
Shaheen, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit.

At the conclusion
of the course, Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit, explained
that this course was part of a long-term effort by PCHR to promote human rights
in Palestinian society in cooperation with community-based organizations. Al-Aqra’ added that  this course was
part of a 3-year project, funded by the European Union and Oxfam Novib, whose
goal is to improve awareness and respect of human rights in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.   Al-Aqra’ asked the participants to continue to benefit
from the services offered by PCHR; telling participants that all people are
welcome. He hoped that the course would constitute the beginning of a fruitful
relationship between PCHR, civil society organizations and greater community.

Mr. Mohammed
Jaser, Director of Tawasol Association, who was observing the course, thanked
PCHR for the efforts made to disseminate human rights culture in Palestinian
society.  Jaser stressed that the course contributed to raising the participants’
awareness of the concepts of human rights, and that they are a need in society
not an intellectual luxury.  One of the participants, Asma’ Fahjan, highly
appreciated the course, the efficiency of trainers, and the training methods,
which contributed to enriching effective participation and fruitful discussion.
 Fahjan asked the participants to apply what they had learned in the
course in the intuitions where they work.