Ref:
12/2015

On
Wednesday, 15 April 2012, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR)
Training Unit concluded a training course on children’s rights, concluded in
cooperation with Tawasol Center for Youth and Culture a training course in the
field of children’s rights.  The three-day
training course (15 training hours) took place in the office of Tawasol Center
in Rafah between 13 and 15 April 2015. 
This training course is part of a project funded by the EU entitled
“Promoting Human Rights and Freedom of Access to Information in the Gaza
Strip”.  Twenty-five members and volunteers
of the center attended the training.

The
training covered the following topics: Introduction to human rights; children’s
development stages and needs; History of the children’s rights evolution; children’s
concept; fundamental principles of children’s rights; review of children’s
rights in the  Convention on the Rights
of the Child; juveniles; children’s rights in armed conflicts; and violations
of the children’s rights (practical applications).

A
team of specialized trainers supervised the training sessions.  The team included Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’,
Director of PCHR’s Training Unit; Ms. Sally al-Zamli, Lawyer in the National
Society for Democracy and Law; Ms. Randa al-Loqa and Mr. Mohammed Farahat, who
both work in the Tawasol Center.  It is
noteworthy that three of the trainers participated in a TOT in the field of
human rights recently organized by PCHR.

At
the end of the training course, PCHR organized a closing ceremony, during which
all participants received certificates. Mohammed Farahat, Executive Director of
Tawasol Center, thanked PCHR considering the course as a great opportunity for
the trainers, who participated in TOTs previously organized by PCHR, to
practice their skills and theoretical knowledge they received.  He also appreciated PCHR’s efforts to move
trainers from theory to practice.

Mr.
Bassam al-Aqraa’ said that this course was distinguished from the previous ones
with many aspects.  The most important aspect
was the program of the course that was set in coordination with the targeted
group so that it would meet their needs. 
Moreover, the course was part of an initiative from two persons who
previously participated in the TOT organized by PCHR.  In addition, three new trainers facilitated
the training sessions.  Mr. ‘Abdel Halim
Abu Samrah, PCHR’s Public Relations Officer in the southern Gaza Strip, said
that the relationship between PCHR and the participants in the course and
Tawasol Center must not end at the end of the course, but it should start from
here and deepen.  He also emphasized that
PCHR’s door will always be open to participants to benefit from PCHR’s
experience.

All
participants appreciated PCHR’s efforts to disseminate the culture of
children’s rights in the Palestinian society. 
In this context, Kholoud Abu Shabab, a participant in the course said
that the course was characterized by its rich topics and contributed in raising
the participants’ awareness in children’s rights that led to better
understanding.  Bahaa’ Kullab, another
participant in the course, praised the efficient trainers and their various and
interactive training methods which were used during the course, and explained
that the effective participation and the discussion that prevailed in the
training sessions contributed in the enrichment of the course.