On Thursday, 14 October 2010, the Training Unit of the Palestinian
Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training course on women’s rights,
in cooperation with Palestine Without Borders Association in the southern Gaza
Strip town of Rafah. The 20-hour
training course was held in offices of the Association in the period 10-14
October 2010. The number of participants
in the course was 22, representing 6 community-based organizations in
Rafah. This course is the second one
organized by PCHR this years in the field of women’s rights; PCHR organized a
series of courses on women’s rights every year. 

Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training Unit, explained that the
content of the training course focused on the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the most comprehensive
treaty in the field of women’s rights. The training materials included: Historical development of women’s
rights; the concept of discrimination against women; women’s legal, economic,
social, cultural, civil and political rights under CEDAW; measures to be taken
by States to implement CEDAW; the Committee against Discrimination against
Women and guidelines for reporting to it; and gender issues.

The training was conducted by specialized trainers from PCHR: Sameer
Hassaniya and Hanan Matar, lawyers in Women’s Rights Unit; Majeda Shihada, a
researcher in Women’s Rights Unit; Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of Training Unit;
and Khalil Shahin, Director of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit.

In his concluding speech, ‘Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Public Relations
Officer in PCHR’s sub-office in Khan Yunis, explained that this course is a part
of a three-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. Abu Samra added
that this course is part of long-term efforts made by PCHR to promote women’s
rights in the Palestinian society in cooperation with civil society
organizations. He added that PCHR is ready to offer its services to all, hoping
that this course was a fruitful start to a good relationship between PCHR and
civil society organizations and the public.  

Nisreen Abu Sharekh, a trainee, stated that the course served to raise
the awareness of participants of the concepts of human rights, including
women’s rights, and that it was characterized by distinguished subjects. She further highly appreciated the trainers
and the training methods they used, stressing that effective participation and
discussion contributed to the success of the course. Another trainee, Hassan Faraj, called for
organizing more of such courses, which leave positive effects on participants.

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