Ref: 7/2023
Date: 09 February 2023
On Thursday, 09 February 2023, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training course on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. The 15-hour course was attended by 26 directors and officers from the Judicial Police in the Gaza Strip and was held over the course of 3 days from 01 to 09 February 2023 in Gaza City.
The training program tackled various topics that address the needs of the targeted group to introduce the Judicial Police staff to human rights concepts, including standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners in accordance with human rights standards relevant to inmates’ rights, best procedures for dealing with inmates’ complaints, international protection of civilians in international humanitarian law, the Convention against Torture, and the rights and duties that judicial police officers should abide by according to human rights standards.
At the end of the course, PCHR held a closing ceremony where Mr. Raji Sourani, PCHR’s Director, stressed that this course comes as part of PCHR and human rights organizations’ work in advocating the principle of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary through providing the law enforcement officers with the theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of international human rights law and international humanitarian law to fulfill their obligations and duties in order to achieve justice and redress for citizens in accordance with the international human rights standards. Sourani hoped that this course would develop their work within a human rights-based approach, emphasizing PCHR’s continuous preparedness to enhance their capacities, empower them and provide them with the needed legal counseling and aid for them.
Brigadier ‘Ali Qandeel, Director General of the Judicial Police in the Gaza Strip, praised PCHR’s role and thanked it for its responsiveness to implement such a specialized training course that aims at improving and building the capacities of the Judicial Police staff, positively affecting their operational performance. He also emphasized that joint cooperation with PCHR will continue to improve, develop, and contribute to building their capacities.
The participants emphasized that the course was characterized with rich topics that address their work and improve their performance in a way that will achieve justice in the Palestinian society. They also praised trainers’ efficiency and various and interactive training methods used during the training sessions.
At the end of the course, all participants received certificates.