On Thursday, 11 November 2010, the Training
Unit of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training
course on the Rights of the Child/ Human Rights, in cooperation with the Union
of Health Work Committees in the Gaza Strip. The 20-hour training course was held in the main office of the Union in
Gaza City from 7-11 November 2010.  The
number of participants in the course was 23, representing 4 institutions of the
Union of Health Work Committees distributed on four areas in the Gaza Strip.

The course focused on a number of international
human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Convention on the Rights
of the Child; Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women; in addition to the independence of the judiciary, political
participation and gender. The course
highlighted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as it was thoroughly
discussed.

The training was conducted by a number of
specialized trainers from PCHR: Samir Hassaniya, lawyer in PCHR’s Women’s
Rights Unit; Majda Shihada, researcher in PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit; Mona
al-Shawwa, Director of Women’s Rights Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s
Training Unit; and Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights Unit.

In the conclusion of the course, Bassam
al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit, explained that this course
constitutes part of a 3-year project, funded by the European Union and Oxfam
Novib, whose goal is to improve awareness and respect of human rights in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory.  Al-Aqra’
added that this course is part of long-term efforts made by PCHR to promote
human rights in the Palestinian society in cooperation with community-based
organizations.  He further said that this
course was organized as the targeted group needs such courses. The rights of the child was focused on, as
the trainees participate in implementing programs and activities pertaining to
the rights of the child. Al-Aqra’ asked
the participants to benefit from the services offered by PCHR, confirming that
it is open for all. He hoped that this
course would constitute the beginning of a fruitful relationship between PCHR
and civil society organizations and people.

The participants highly appreciated efforts
made by PCHR to disseminate human rights culture in the Palestinian
society. One of the participants, Sami
‘Atallah, stated that the course contributed to raising the participants’
awareness of human rights in general and the rights of the child in particular,
specially as they are about to implement activities relevant to the rights of
the child. Another participant, Mona
Mousa, said she highly appreciated the efficiency of trainers, and the training
methods, which contributed to enriching effective participation and fruitful
discussion.  All participants received
certificates at the conclusion of the course.

————————————-

For more information, please contact the Palestinian Centre for
Human Rights at [email protected] or
+972-(0)8-282