Today, Thursday, 18 March 2010, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights
(PCHR) concluded a training course in human rights and gender issues in Khan
Yunis. The 20-hour course was held in
PCHR’s sub-office in Khan Yunis in the period 14-18 March 2010. The number of participants in the course was
27 persons, representing 12 community-based organizations in Khan Yunis. 

The course focused on a number of international human rights
instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights; Convention on the Rights of the Child; and Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the
rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, political participation and
gender issues. 

The training was conducted by a number of specialized trainers from
PCHR: Shareef Abu Nassar, Lawyer in PCHR Legal Aid Unit; Majeda Shehada,
Researcher in PCHR Women’s Rights Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR
Training Unit; and Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights Unit. Salah Abu Hatab, a
social activist, also contributed to the training.

Abul Halim Abu Samra, PCHR Public Relations Officer in the Southern Gaza
Strip, stated that this course is a part of a 3-year project, funded by the
European Union and Oxfam Novib, whose goal is to raise awareness and respect of
human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training
Unit, stated that this course is part of long-term efforts made by PCHR to
promote human rights and gender issues in the Palestinian society, in
cooperation with civil society organizations.

The participants highly appreciated efforts made by PCHR to restore
Palestinians’ trust in human rights and democracy, especially following the
setback incurred to such trust over the past years. One of the participants, Hala al-Farra,
stated that the course contributed to raising participants’ awareness of human
rights and gender concepts, and was distinguished in the issues it focused
on. She further appreciated the
efficiency of trainers, and the training methods, which contributed to
enriching effective participation and fruitful discussion.

Certificates were then handed to participants.