On Thursday, 25 March 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 National Society for Democracy and Law in Rafah. The 20-hour course was held in the office of
the Society in Rafah in the period 21-25 March 2010. The number of participants
in the course was 23 persons, representing 10 community-based organizations in
Rafah.

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.

Abdul Halim Abu Samra, PCHR Public
Relations Officer in the Southern Gaza Strip, 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. 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. Ahmed Abu ‘Asaker, Executive
Director of the National Society for Democracy and Law, said that the
relationship between the Society and PCHR is a longstanding and developing one. He added that the course contributed to
raising participants’ awareness of human rights and gender concepts, and was
distinguished in the issues it focused on. He 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.