Ref: 03/2016

On 28 January 2016, the Training Unit at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), and al-Adham Society for Development concluded a training course in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law in northern Gaza. The Training Unit organized a closing ceremony at the end of the course, which is part of the two-year “Promoting Human Rights and Freedom of Access to Information in the Gaza Strip” project funded by the EU. The 20-hour course was held at the office of al-Adham Society for Development in Beit Hanoun from 24 to 28 January 2016 and attended by Twenty-seven members and volunteers from the society.

The program of the course included a number of international human rights instruments, including the International Bill of Human Rights (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights); the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Universal Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women; in addition to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.

A team of specialized trainers supervised the training sessions. The team included Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit; Ahlam al-Aqra’, a lawyer at PCHR’s Legal Unit; Mohammed ‘Atallah, a trainer at PCHR and Mohammed Ghannam, a Fieldworker at PCHR. Moreover, Yasmin Bashir and Majed al-Aqra’, who both received a Training of Trainers (TOT) in the field of human rights at PCHR in 2015, participated in the course.

Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’ stated that, “the course is part of long-term efforts exerted by PCHR to promote human rights in the Palestinian society in cooperation with the active community-based organizations in the Gaza Strip. He added, “The relationship between PCHR, the participants in the course and al-Adham Society must not end at the end of the course, but it should start from here and deepen. He stressed that,” PCHR’s door will always be open to participants to benefit from PCHR’s experience.”

In the same context, Ms. Ibtisam al-Za’anin, Director of the al-Adham Society for Development, highlighted the importance of holding similar courses with PCHR for the experience, confidence and good reputation PCHR has in the field of human rights.

At the end of the course, all participants received certificates.