Ref: 65/2009 On Wednesday, 25 November 2009, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) Training and Women’s Rights Units concluded a specialized training course on women’s rights in cooperation with the Creative Woman Society in Gaza. The training course was organized in the Creative Woman Society in Gaza City from 22 to 25 November 2009 for 4 successive days (20 training hours) with 27 women’s rights activists in attendance. The participants represented 8 community organizations working in Gaza governorate.  

This training course is a part of a series of activities that PCHR organizes on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which marks today, 25 November 2009.

Bassam al-Aqra’a, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit, concluded by saying that it is necessary for the participants to benefit from the data and knowledge that were presented during the course, in a way that helps them to participate in promoting the status of women in Gaza governorate. He said that he wishes that the participant would communicate these data and knowledge to their colleagues.

Al-Aqra’a explained that the content of this training course focused on women’s rights as codified in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the most important and comprehensive convention on women’s rights. The training program included the historical development of women’s rights, the principle of discrimination against women, legal rights ensured to women under CEDAW, women’s economic; social and cultural rights as ensured under CEDAW, women’s political participation under CEDAW, steps required to be taken by States in order to apply the provisions and terms of CEDAW, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and instructions on how to submit reports to the Committee, as well as other important topics including gender and violence against women.

Al-Aqra’a also explained that a team of specialized trainers from PCHR conducted the training. The members of the training team were: Muna al-Shawa, Director of PCHR Women’s Rights Unit; Majda Shehata, researcher at PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit; Hanan Matar, lawyer at PCHR Women’s Rights Unit; Samir Hassaniya, lawyer at PCHR Women’s Rights Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’a, Director of PCHR Training Unit; Khalil Shahin, Director of PCHR Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit; and Salah Abu Hatab, social activist.