Ref: 63/2011

Today, the Training Unit of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights
has concluded a training course in monitoring and documentation of violations
of the rights of the child in time of armed conflict, which has been organized
in cooperation with Save the Children – Sweden. The 20-hour course was held in PCHR’s head office in Gaza City in the
period 02-06 October 2011. It was
attended by 22 social workers representing 15 organizations that are members of
the Coalition for the Protection of the Rights of the Child in the Gaza Strip. 

The program of the course included: 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 rights of the child under international human rights
instruments and domestic laws; the concept of monitoring and documentation in
the field of human rights; mechanisms of monitoring and documentation of
violations of the rights of the child; reporting on the rights of the child;
practical applications of monitoring and documentation of violations of the
rights of the child.

The organization of this course was the fruit of a workshop
organized on 29 September 2011 in PCHR’s head office for expected participants
in the course to identify their needs. The participants in the course will communicate with PCHR’s field
workers to gain skills and experience in the field of monitoring and
documentation. 

The training was conducted by a number of specialized trainers from
PCHR: Ibtissam Zaqqout, Director of PCHR Field Work Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’,
Director of PCHR Training Unit; Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights Unit; and Maher Lubbad, PCHR Database Officer. Dr. ‘Abdul Qader Jarada, also contributed to
the training.

The participants highly appreciated PCHR’s efforts to disseminate
human rights culture in the Palestinian society.  They emphasized that the
course contributed to raising the participants’ awareness of the concepts of
human rights, and methods of monitoring and documentation of violations of
human rights, especially the rights of the child.  They further
praised the practical applications used in the course and linking them with
PCHR’s field workers. They also
appreciated the efficiency of trainers and the training methods, including
effective participation and discussion, which contributed to enriching the
course. They called for organizing more
similar courses. 

It should be noted that PCHR and Save the Children – Sweden had
concluded a training course in human rights and democracy on 15 September
2011. The course, in which 21 staff
members of 18 organizations that are members of the Coalition for the
Protection of the Rights of the Child in the Gaza Strip participated, was conducted
in PCHR’s head office in Gaza City. 

Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training Unit, stated that these
two courses are part of PCHR’s long-term efforts to promote human rights in the
Palestinian society, in cooperation with civil society organizations. Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights Unit, stated that these two courses constitute one
stage in a joint project implemented by PCHR and Save the Children –
Sweden. The project includes a series of
activities carried out under the title “protection of children’s rights in
times of armed conflicts,” targeting staff members of organizations that are
members of the Coalition for the Protection of the Rights of the Child in the
Gaza Strip.