Ref: 37/2010 

On
Thursday, 01 April 2010, the Training Unit in the Palestinian Center for Human
Rights (PCHR) concluded a training course in the field of human rights and
gender issues, which was organized in cooperation with the Fares al-Arab
Society in Gaza City. The 20-hour course
was held in the office of the Society in Rafah in the period 28 March – 01
April 2010. The number of participants in the course was 23 persons,
representing 10 community-based organizations in Gaza City.

The
course focused on a number of international human rights instruments, including
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights; International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights; Convention on the Rights of the Child; and Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the rule
of law, the independence of the judiciary, political participation and gender
issues.

The
training was conducted by a number of specialized trainers from PCHR: Samir
Hasaniya, Lawyer in PCHR Women’s Right Unit; Sharif Abu Nassar, Lawyer in PCHR
Legal Aid Unit; Majda Shhada, Researcher in PCHR Women’s Right Unit; Bassam
al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training Unit; Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit. Salah Abu Hatab, a social activist, also contributed to the training.

In
the conclusion of the course, Zuhair Madhi, Head of the Bord of Fares al-Arab
Society, thanked PCHR for its efforts to disseminate the human rights culture
in the Palestinian society, to restore the trust of Palestinians in human
rights and democracy, especially light of its setback over the past 5 years.

Jaber
Wishah, Deputy Director of PCHR, stated that this course is part of a 3-year
project, funded by the European Union and Oxfam Novib, whose goal is to raise
awareness and respect of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. He called on the trainees to
disseminate the human rights concepts they learnt in their surrounding
community in order to achieve the aspired change. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training
Unit, stated that this course is part of long-term efforts made by PCHR to
promote human rights and gender issues in the Palestinian society, in
cooperation with civil society organizations. He

added
that PCHR is ready to offer its services to all, hoping that this course is a
fruitful start for a good relationship between PCHR and civil society
organizations and the public.

The
participants highly appreciated efforts made by PCHR to restore Palestinians’
trust in human rights and democracy, especially following the setback incurred
to such trust over the past years. A
trainee, Jamal Farawana, said that the course contributed to raising
participants’ awareness of human rights and gender concepts. Another trainee, Abeer Sha’at, stated that
the course was distinguished in the issues it focused on. She further appreciated
the efficiency of trainers, and the training methods, which contributed to
enriching effective participation and fruitful discussion.

Certificates
were then handed to participants by Zuhair Madhi, Jaber Wishah and Bassam
al-Aqra’.