Ref: 61/2011

Today, the Training Unit of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights
(PCHR) has concluded a training course in human rights organized in cooperation
with the Community Media Center (CMC) in Gaza City. The 15-hour course was held in the CMC’s
office in Gaza City in the period 03-05 October 2011, and was attended by 19
participants, including journalists and students of journalism in the
universities of the Gaza Strip. 

The program of the course included a number of international human
rights instruments: 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; and
Universal Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women; in addition
to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful
assembly and gender issues.

In her concluding speech, Ms. Andalib Edwan, Director of CMC,
stated that this course aimed at supporting and developing human rights
concepts, disseminating the human rights culture among young journalists,
exchanging experiences and capacity building of NGOs. She highly appreciated PCHR’s role in this
regard. 

Mr. Bassam al-Aqra, Director of the Training Unit, explained that
this course was part of long-term efforts by PCHR to promote human rights in
Palestinian society in cooperation with community-based organizations.  He
added that this course was 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 asked the
participants to continue to benefit from the services offered by PCHR; telling
participants that all people are welcomed. He called for having journalists
specialized in reporting on the human rights situation depending on PCHR as a
source of information in this regard. 

The participants highly appreciated PCHR’s efforts to disseminate
human rights culture in the Palestinian society.  One of the participants,
Muna Hilles, said that the course contributed to raising the participants’
awareness of the concepts of human rights.  Another participant, Nidaa’
al-Turok, appreciated the efficiency of trainers and the training methods,
which contributed to raising the participants’ awareness of human rights and
democracy, stressing that effective discussion characterized the course,
excluding one or two lectures. She
further called for organizing more similar courses for media specialized. 

In the end, certificates of participation were handed to the
participants.