June 4, 2009
In Cooperation with WAC, PCHR Organizes a Panel Discussion on Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression under PNA Rule
In Cooperation with WAC, PCHR Organizes a Panel Discussion on Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression under PNA Rule

 

Ref: 17/2009

Date: 04 June 2009

 

 

In Cooperation with WAC, PCHR Organizes a Panel Discussion on Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression under PNA Rule

 

On Wednesday, 3 June 2009, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) Democratic Development Unit (DDU) organized, in cooperation with Women’s Affairs Center (WAC), a panel discussion on “the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression under the Rule of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).” The activity took place in WAC’s office in Gaza city. WAC’s female activists in the area of defending women’s issues participated in the meeting.

 

This workshop is part of a series of activities organized by PCHR, in cooperation with other civil society organizations, which intend to enhance and develop democracy in Palestinian society. These meetings aim to promote public awareness with respect to the principles of democracy, and to strengthen and enhance these principles in the Palestinian society.  PCHR considers such activities as essential in light of Palestinians’ deteriorating faith in the democratic process. This deterioration has arisen consequent to the international community’s boycott of the results of the Palestinian legislative elections of January 2006 and as a result of the internal political fragmentation and its consequent destructive impact on the Palestinian national cause.

 

Salah Abu Hatab, social activist, facilitated this panel discussion.  Mahmoud al-Efranji, a researcher in PCHR’s DDU, presented a paper on “the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression.” The meeting was concluded by inviting participants to an open discussion on the principle of freedom of opinion and expression, international standards and domestic laws regulating the freedom of opinion and expression and the status of the right to freedom of opinion and expression under the PNA rule.