Ref: 168/2003
Raji Sourani, the Director of the
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, will be awarded the 2003 International
Service Human Rights Award at a ceremony to be held in London on December 15 at
the Houses of Parliament.
Mr.
Sourani was honoured to accept the award saying that, “Despite the present and
historical responsibilities of the British government for the situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, the British government continues to ignore
the ever deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip
and West Bank, including Jerusalem. However, British civil society and
outstanding organisations such as UNAIS give us the hope and support to
continue in our quest to defend Palestinian human rights. As members of
Palestinian civil society, we are committed to speaking truth to power and
breaking the conspiracy of silence.”
This
is the inaugural year for the award and coincides with the 50th
anniversary of the United Nations Association International Service (UNAIS), a
UK registered development agency working predominantly in West Africa, Latin
America and Palestine. UNAIS provides professional support worldwide by placing
development workers and human rights experts with local partner organisations
focusing primarily on health, sustainable livelihoods, organisational
development and human rights.
UNAIS
has been active in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for 25 years and has
enjoyed a close and rewarding partnership with PCHR for the last 15 years.
UNAIS has provided invaluable support for PCHR’s efforts to highlight the dire
human rights situation, in addition to providing PCHR and other Palestinian
non-governmental organisations with expertise and practical assistance.
The
awards ceremony at the House of Commons will be co-hosted by renowned
journalist, Jon Snow, and Lord Bassam, and attended by various members of the
British parliament as well as the 2003 recipients, Mr. Sourani and fellow human
rights activist, Bianca Jagger.
Whilst
in the United Kingdom, Mr. Sourani will take the opportunity to meet with
various members of the human rights community, lawyers, the Department for
International Development, Members of Parliament, non-governmental
organisations and the British media. He will also meet with UK solidarity
groups and representatives from the Arab and Palestinian communities in the UK.
For information
regarding PCHR’s activities, please refer to our website at www.pchrgaza.org
