Through the HAYA Joint Programme, PCHR Concludes Series of Training Courses for Student-Parent Councils at UNRWA Schools
Ref: 04/2022
Date: 15 February 2022
On Sunday, 13 February 2022, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded 3 training sessions under the HAYA Joint Programme entitled “Women’s Rights and Intervention and Protection Mechanisms to Eliminate Violence Against Women.” The training course was conducted in cooperation with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Student-Parent Central Council throughout the Gaza Strip.
The three sessions were held in Gaza, Central Gaza Strip and Khan Younis between 30 January to 13 February 2022 with 76 people in attendance, including 39 women i.e., 51.3%.
This training course is a part of a project conducted in partnership between the PCHR and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) through the HAYA Joint Programme, funded by the Government of Canada. The project aims to develop the knowledge and educational skills of teachers and parents in UNRWA schools, as well as to acquire new educational skills that contribute to reducing violence against women, particularly gender-based violence, based on an updated educational methodology promoting human rights.
The training program addresses several topics addressing the needs of the participants and promoting the concept of human rights, particularly women’s rights as stipulated in international conventions and gender-based violence issues in addition to parents’ role in reducing the phenomenon of violence.
At the training’s closing ceremony, Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Head of PCHR’s Training Unit, asserted the importance of the training in targeting parents as a vital social group that play a crucial role in raising future generations. Abu Samra stressed parents’ significant role in combating violence and curbing its devastating effects on the family, the educational environment, and the society as well as their contribution to creating a generation believing in justice and equality between men and women.
Abu-Samra added that the negative impact of violence against girls and women is not limited to them, but extends to their families and societies, undermining developmentconcurrently costing countries large amounts to address its effects. He called on participants to exert all efforts to end this phenomenon, particularly as violence against women and girls is the most commonly practiced violation of human rights.
The Chairmen of UNRWA Schools’ Student-Parent Councils praised the UNRWA schools in the three governorates commended PCHR’s work and its contribution to raising awareness and capacity building of parents for the elimination of violence against women and gender-based violence. He thanked PCHR and the trainers for their efforts in the course and called upon his colleagues to disseminate the information they received to their peers and larger social circles.
Ms. Hazam Tahboub, the HAYA Joint Programme Manager, stressed the importance of education in eliminating violence against women and girls. “Through the support of the Government of Canada, the HAYA Joint Programme is proud to work with PCHR towards ensuring a future free of violence against women and girls in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Education is a vital step towards achieving this goal.”
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The HAYA Joint Programme seeks to eliminate violence against women in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. HAYA is funded by the Government of Canada and jointly implemented by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–Habitat), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development as well as other ministries and civil society organizations.
