PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS DENOUNCE CAMPAIGN
Pledge to Continue Human Rights Activities Undeterred
16 June, 1999
Human Rights Organizations, being part of the Palestinian civil society, have for long been at the forefront of activities defending human rights. Human rights groups have raised the awareness of Palestinians on their basic rights and acted with the community to defend those rights. They have undertaken campaigns to challenge threats to the legal status of the occupied territories. They have been doing their utmost to unify international public opinion ensure the application of international humanitarian law, in particular Fourth Geneva Convention, in the Occupied Territories.
Unfortunately, during the last few weeks, a counter-campaign has been running against human rights organizations seeking to undermine their credibility and slander the reputation of those involved in these organizations. This campaign is the more unfortunate because it seems to be led by the Minister of Justice, Frieh Abu Meiden. The objective being to envelope the Palestinian community and government in the campaign, thereby diverting attention from important concerns affecting Palestinian human rights.
This campaign is undermining the passage of the Law of Charitable Associations and Community Organizations in Palestine (the NGO law).
Human rights organizations have contributed to the development of the law, which has been passed through Palestine Legislative Council three times and is presently awaiting implementation into law. The law is widely viewed as an achievement: providing legal protection to NGOs, while ensuring their accountability and ensuring the integrity of the development process.
The campaign led by the Minister of Justice coincides with the President Arafat’s suggestion to keep the NGOs under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior. The proposal was rejected by the legislature, which accepted that NGOs could act with greater independence if the regulating of NGOs were with the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of the Interior covers security and a department of the Interior Ministry has undertaken a number of raids on NGOs.
Human rights organizations has strongly advocated for a democratic pluralist society, where human rights and the rule of law are respected by all, and that there is independence and separation between the arms of State (the executive, judiciary and legislature) to ensure this. These efforts have succeeded in bringing attention to this and have encouraged others, including legislators and judges, to demand greater executive respect for the function of Palestinian institutions. The counter-campaign may be aimed at undermining these efforts.
It is apparent, however, that Minister of Justice has been the subject of criticisms because he has failed, as is the duty of his office, to support the independence of the judiciary and the legal process. The Minister of Justice, on occasion, has intentionally interfered with the work of the courts and the officials of the court. In doing so, he may have breached domestic and international law.
By pursuing this campaign, attention no longer remains on the crucial role of NGOs and human rights groups in promoting the development process and the basic rights of Palestinians wherever these are challenged. Instead, Palestinian civil society is obliged to defend itself against attacks made without foundation or justification.
Human rights organisations remain committed to challenging Israeli violations of individual and collective rights. And to their efforts in establish a Palestinian democratic, civil society based on the respect of the rule of law and human rights.
The organisations below denounce this campaign, particularly at this crucial juncture when events in the international arena required our collective and common attention.
The organisations urgently request President Arafat to:
-Issue the Law of Charitable Associations and Community Organizations as passed by the Palestinian Legislative Council on its third reading,
-Promptly appoint an Attorney General to undertake the responsibilities incumbent on that office, particularly those responsibilities guaranteeing basic rights and democracy,
-Disclose the actual reasons that led to the failure of the Ministry of Justice to perform its duties in preparing the necessary legislature to consolidate judicial independence, ensuring guarantees for the judicial authority, and enforcing respect of the courts and its decisions,
-Challenge illegal approaches and claims voiced by a number of Palestinian officials and ministers and confirm the commitment to democracy and the institutions, including NGOs, that promote these principles, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
The organisations also encourage those involved in the development process and committed to democratic principles to urge President Arafat to undertake the same.
Signatories
Addameer Association for Human Rights-Gaza
Addameer Prisoners’ Support Association-West Bank
Al Haq
Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims
Freedom’s Defence Centre
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
Jerusalem Centre for Social and Economic Rights
Jerusalem Legal Aid Centre
LAW: The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and
the Environment
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights – Gaza
Palestinian Counselling Centre
Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights
Physicians for Human Rights-Palestine
PNGO-Palestinian NGO Network
Workers Rights Centre – Jerusalem
