Ref: 42/2020

Date: 05 November 2020

On Saturday, 07 November 2020, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a second training course for lawyers on human rights law and mechanisms of litigation before Sharia Courts, in collaboration with the Sharia Lawyers Bar Association in Gaza. The 35-hour course, which was held over the course of seven days, from 31 October – 07 November 2020, was attended by 25 trainee male and female lawyers. The training sessions observed coronavirus preventive and safety measures.

The training course focused on building lawyers’ capacity in international human rights law, particularly conventions on women’s rights, and their fit with national laws and modern day; as well as topics relevant to Sharia Laws such as the Personal Status Law, Family Law, Inheritance Rules, Waqf (Endowment) rules, and Sharia Proceedings Law.

A team of specialized trainers supervised the training sessions from PCHR’s Training and Women’s Rights Units, as well as several Sharia Court judges and the Sharia Bar Association.

At the end of the course, PCHR held a closing ceremony where Lawyer Raji al-Sourani, PCHR’s Director, expressed his hope that the lawyers benefit from the training in raising their capacity to litigate within the Sharia courts to promote women’s rights, and that they have improved knowledge of human rights. He urged them to stay updated on legal developments by reading and researching and actively engaging in developing the justice system in Palestine, as lawyers constitute an integral part to this institution. Sourani called upon the lawyers to uphold the profession’s ethics and abide by its Code of Conduct. He emphasized that PCHR will always welcome them for legal mentoring and training.

Mr. Ayman Abu ‘Aishah, Head of Sharia Bar Association, praised PCHR’s distinctive role in disseminating the culture of human rights and rule of law among young lawyers, and the Center’s role in training and prepping young lawyers on litigation mechanisms before Sahria courts. Abu Aishah commended PCHR’s pioneering role in helping young female lawyers engage in Sharia courts, a field limited to men a mere two decades ago and he emphasized the great relationship between PCHR and the Bar Association.

The participants praised PCHR’s unique role in building their capacities to engage in Sharia Courts.  They added that the course was distinguished with rich topics that will reflect on lawyers’ professional work and their understanding of human rights, hoping it would reflect positively on women’s rights in Palestine. Several participants expressed their desire to volunteer and contribute to the promotion of human rights.

At the end of the ceremony, all participants received certificates.