Ref: 42/2020

Date: 05 November 2020

On Thursday, 05 November 2020, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training course for lawyers on human rights law and mechanisms of litigation before Sharia Courts, in collaboration with the Sharia Lawyers Bar Association in Gaza. The course comes as part of PCHR’s capacity-building efforts targeting male and female lawyers in the field of Personal Status Law, family-related laws and women’s rights in order to prepare them for obtaining the sharia law license to practice their work before sharia courts.

The 35-hour course, which was held over the course of seven days, from 27 October – 05 November 2020, was attended by 24 trainee male and female lawyers. The training sessions observed coronavirus preventive and safety measures.

The training program of the course included topics that meet the needs of the targeted group to promote their knowledge on the culture of human rights, particularly women’s rights, and to prep them for work at Sharia courts. It focused on topics relevant to International human rights law in addition to other topics relevant to Sharia Laws such as the Personal Status Law, Family Law, Inheritance Rules, Waqf (Endowment) rules, and Sharia Proceedings Law.

A team of specialized trainers supervised the training sessions from PCHR’s Training and Women’s Rights Units, as well as several Sharia Court judges and the Sharia Bar Association.

At the end of the course, PCHR held a closing ceremony where Lawyer Raji al-Sourani, PCHR’s Director, said that these courses come within PCHR’s legal and humanitarian efforts to monitor, protect and disseminate the human rights culture, and PCHR’s role in providing legal aid and counselling for those who need it. Sourani also reviewed PCHR’s role in promoting and protecting women’s rights and addressed PCHR services provided to victims of violence, especially women; in addition to PCHR’s attempts to harmonize the Personal Status Law with women’s rights as well as developing the justice system in Palestine, as lawyers constitute an integral part to this institution.

Mr. Ayman Abu ‘Aishah, Head of Sharia Bar Association, praised PCHR’s distinctive role in disseminating the culture of human rights and rule of law among young lawyers, pointing out to the great relationship between PCHR and the Bar Association.  He added that the course was characterized with its rich topics that will help lawyers pass the Sharia Law license exam and contribute to better understanding of the Personal Status Law, to create a generation of lawyers that is both aware and equipped to defend human rights.

The participants praised PCHR’s unique role in building their capacities to engage in Sharia Courts.  They added that the course was distinguished with rich topics that will reflect on lawyers’ professional work and their understanding of human rights, hoping it would reflect positively on women’s rights in Palestine.

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