Ref: 56/2006

Date:  16 November 2006    

Official Irish Delegation Visits PCHR

On Tuesday, 14 November 2006, an official Irish delegation from the Representative Office of Ireland to the Palestinian Authority and Irish Aid visited PCHR. The visiting delegation consisted of:

–         Conor O’Riordan: Head of the Representative Office of Ireland to the Palestinian Authority.

–         Colm O’Conaill: Deputy Representative in the Representative Office of Ireland to the Palestinian Authority;

–         Brendan McMahon: Director of Emergency & Recovery Section, Development Co-operation Directorate in Irish Aid;

–         Cait Moran: Deputy Director of Emergency & Recovery Section, Development Co-operation Directorate in Irish Aid; and

–         Dermot McGauran: Deputy Regional Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Irish Aid.

The visitors met Hamdi Shaqqoura (Director of PCHR’s Democratic Development Unit), Khalil Shahin (Director of the Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Unit), and Mona El-Shawwa (Director of Women and Children’s Unit).

Shaqqoura talked about the human rights developments in the Gaza Strip, especially those pertaining to the latest Israeli incursion into Beit Hanoun. He outlined the catastrophic effects of Israeli human rights violations on the civilian population and property. In addition, the directors talked about the activities of their respective departments. Mona El-Shawwa talked about the Women’s Unit legal awareness and legal aid to Palestinian women. Shaheen talked about the work of the Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights unit, which includes documenting violations of economic and social rights. Shaqqoura shed light on lobbying legislation activities and advocacy of civil and political rights of Palestinians through the work of the Democratic Development Unit.

The visiting delegation members commended PCHR’s efforts in advocating the human rights of the Palestinian people.