Ref: 09/2021

Date: 09 February 2021

On Tuesday, 09 February 2021, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) held a third consultative meeting at its Khan Yunis office with organizations involved in monitoring the general elections.

The meeting was attended by representative of 22 community-based organizations in Rafah and Khan Yunis, namely Mjadidoon Charity Development Association for Youth Support; the National Society for Democracy and Law; Benevolent Society for Care of Rural Family; the Rural Women’s Development Society; Women’s Programs Center – Rafah; Al-Jenoub Society for Women’s Health; United Youth Association; Al-Namat Society; Generosity Without Limit Association; Aum Al-Naser Benevolent Association; Human Development Association; Zamzam Charitable Society; Adam Association for the Development of Society; Safaa Development Association; General Union of Palestinian Women; Popular Committee of Refugees; Al-Waleed Charity; Brilliant Tomorrow Society; Benaa Youth Center; Al-Fukhary Rural Development Association; and Al-Qarara Society Center for social development.

This meeting comes as part of a series of meeting PCHR holds with representatives of partner organizations involved in monitoring the general elections in Gaza’s governorates. The meeting aims at informing these organizations about PCHR’s work and in preparation to have observers from these organizations join PCHR’s elections monitoring team through all the electoral process, and to consult with them about the needs of choosing the team members.

Abdel Halim Abu Samra, Head of PCHR’s Training Unit, praised the role partner organizations played in supporting PCHR’s elections monitoring efforts, and pointed out that some joined PCHR’s team in monitoring the local and legislative elections. At the time, another part joined PCHR’s monitoring crew during the preparations of local elections of 2016. CBO representatives received intensive training courses by PCHR’s staff in the field of elections monitoring.

Nafez al-Khaldi, a researcher at PCHR’s Democratic Development Unit (DDU), highlighted PCHR’s preparations in monitoring the elections that will be held in 22 May 2021, as the Central Election Commission announced recently. Additionally, preparing the electoral lists and training materials that the observers will receive.

In conclusion, CBOs representatives were involved in the discussion and expressed their intent to work with PCHR and monitor the electoral process as per the criteria set by PCHR for choosing observers.