Press release

Mission of International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Delegation in Gaza

Reference: 4/2000

Date: January 20, 2000

On 20/1/2000, PCHR received the delegation of the International Commission of Jurists from Geneva, headed by Adama Dieng, the ICJ Secretary General. The same day, the delegation met with PCHR staff. Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR highlighted during the meeting, the importance of the Commission’s visit regarding its contribution to support the Palestinian Judiciary, and to support the rule of law, as well as the respect for human rights standards in the Occupied Palestinian territories. At the end of day, a reception was held in the honor of the delegation, at the Windmill hotel in Gaza. A number of PNA’s Officials and Ministers, Judges, Lawyers, Local and International NGOs from the Gaza Strip were present at the reception.

The mission of the ICJ’s delegation aims at assessing and promote the Palestinian judiciary situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In this respect, during its mission in the Gaza Strip, the delegation will meet the Chief of Justice, the Attorney General, the Attorney General for the State Security, the Military Attorney General, and the Head of the Bar Association.

The delegation will end its mission in Gaza with a workshop on the role of the Judiciary in the Civil Society on 24^th January 2000 with the presence and participation of: The Palestinian Minister of Justice Frieh Abu Medien, Dr. Amin Mekki Mednni, first technical advisor of UN higher commissioner for human rights will, Mr. Stephen Tomiem, the former judge and the recent inspector on British prisons, Mr. Peter Wilborn, an Attorney from the USA, and former CIJL Assistant Director, Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR. The second which will focus on the relation of the legislative authority and executive authority from on side with the judicial authority from the other, will participated by Dr. Hassan Khrisha, head of hum rights and monitoring committee of the Palestinian legislative council, Justice Johann Kriegler, Member, South Africa’s Constitutional Court,. Mr Per Stadig, Member of the ICJ Swedish Section.