Ref: 01/2009

Date: 22 April 2009

PCHR and the Palestine Bar Association Organize the First Training Course for Young Lawyers regarding Litigation before Sharia‘ Courts

On Wednesday, 22 April 2009, PCHR’s Training and Women’s Rights Units, in cooperation with the Palestine Bar Association and in the presence of Mr. Salama Bsaiso, Deputy Head of the Palestine bar association, and Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, convened a training course on litigation before Sharia’ courts. The course, which is the first of its kind, is intended for young lawyers.

The training course took place in PCHR’s main office in Gaza City from 22 to 29 April 2009 for 6 successive days (18 training hours) with 27 lawyers in attendance.

In his opening speech at the course, Mr. Salama Bsaiso thanked PCHR for its interest in young lawyers and its unique role in promoting the culture of human rights and the rule of law among lawyers. He also emphasized the Bar Association’s strong relations with PCHR and asserted that the courses designed for young lawyers would continue in the future. Mr. Bsaiso wished the participants an effective participation and ultimate benefit.

Mr. Raji Sourani presented the Bar Association’s history in Palestine and the lawyer’s unique role at both the professional and national levels, clarifying the depth of relations between lawyers and human rights. Sourani explained that the relation between PCHR and the Bar Association is not temporal, but stable and continuous. Finally, Sourani called lawyers not to hesitate to ask for PCHR’s assistance, emphasizing the accessibility of PCHR’s extensive human rights and international law library.

Ms. Mona al-Shawa, Director of PCHR Women’s Rights Unit, presented a summary of PCHR’s objectives, units and services.  PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit provides important services for victimized women, including free of charge legal assistance and litigation before Sharia’ courts.

Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training Unit, pointed out that the course is a unique one as it is the first of its kind among the courses organized for young lawyers in the Gaza Strip in the field of litigation before Sharia’ courts. Al-Aqra’ indicated that this course includes many topics such as: introduction to Sharia’ judiciary; family law; inheritance; the procedures of litigation; and the Convention in the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

A team of specialized trainers from PCHR supervised the training course sessions, along with Hanan Matter, Samir Hassania, lawyers in Women’s Rights, and Mona al-Shawa, Director of the Women’s Rights Unit. Sheikh Sa’id Abu al-Jbeen, Judge of the Higher Sharia’ Court, also provided external training.