Ref: 48/2014

On Thursday, 04 December 2014, the Training
Unit in the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded a training
course on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW), which was organized in cooperation with the Legal Youth
Caucus of al-Azhar University in Gaza City. The 20-hour course was held at
al-Dar Restaurant from 30 November to 04 December 2014.  It targeted 31 members of the Legal Youth
Caucus.

Mr. Bassam al-Aqra, Director of PCHR Training
Unit, asserted that the course focused on CEDAW as the most important and most
comprehensive convention on women’s rights. The course covered a variety of
topics related to women’s rights included in CEDAW, including: CEDAW historical
development; the concept of discrimination, obligations of States towards
women’s rights; women’s legal rights; women’s economic, social and cultural
rights; women’s political participation; 
necessary measures for the Convention’s implementation; guidelines on
reports presented to CEDAW committee; and the concept of gender.

The training was conducted by a number of
specialized trainers: Majeda Shihada and Sameer Hasaniya, from Women’s Rights
Unit; Muna al-Shawa, Director of Women’s Rights Unit; Bassam al-Aqra, Director
of PCHR Training Unit; Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights’ Unit; and Ahlam Meimah, a lawyer a PCHR’s Legal Unit.

Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR
Training Unit, stated that this course is part of a project funded by the
European Union and Oxfam Novib entitled: Human Rights and Freedom of Access to
Information in the Gaza Strip. Al-Aqra asserted that this course is part of
PCHR’s efforts to promote women’s rights in the Palestinian society in
cooperation with civil community organizations and activists in universities.
He asserted that there would be opportunities for future cooperation between
PCHR and youth groups.

The participants thanked PCHR for its efforts
to promote the culture of human rights, especially after the continuous Israeli
violations against the Palestinians. Israa al-Haj, a participant, said that the
course helped raise participants’ awareness of the concepts of human rights and
women’s rights. Wasim al-‘Emawi added that the active discussion contributed to
enriching the course, emphasizing the need for organizing more similar courses to
increase awareness.

On the last day, certificates of
participation were handed to participants.