Ref: 7/2012

On Sunday, 22
January 2012, the Training Unit and Women’s Rights Unit of the Palestinian
Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) inaugurated a training course in the field of
litigation before Shari’a courts in Gaza for young lawyers.  The 18-hour training course is being held in
PCHR’s head office in Gaza in the period 22-29 January 2012, with the
participation of 27 lawyers.

In his opening speech,
Mr. Hamdi Shaqqura, PCHR’s Deputy Director for Program Affairs, addressed the
importance of such courses, which are organized through joints efforts between
PCHR’s Training Unit and Women’s Rights Unit. 
He further highlighted PCHR’s long history in the field of defending
human rights, particularly women’s rights.

Additionally,
he stressed the importance of linking human rights standards with defending
women’s rights before Shari’a courts. 
Shaqqura explained that the importance of these courses lies in that
they do not aim only at enabling young lawyers to litigate before Shari’a
courts, but also to teach them the human rights system and international conventions
relative to women.  He hoped that
participants would effectively participate in the course and acquire the
knowledge they need.

Mona al-Shawa,
Director of PCHR’s Women’s Rights Unit, reviewed the work of the unit and the
services offered to women, including offering legal aid to women and litigation
before Shari’a courts to ensure remedy for them, in addition to the
legal awareness program that aims at teaching women their rights, which are
ensured under local and international laws.

Mr. Sameer
Hassaniya, a lawyer in Women’s Rights Unit, pointed out that this course held
for young lawyers in the field of litigation is the first of its kind in 2012,
especially as the exam held by Shari’a courts to obtain the license to
practice the legal profession before the Shari’a courts is approaching.  Hassaniya explained that the course focuses
on a number of topics, including an introduction to Shari’a judiciary; Code
of Shari’a Procedure; Family Law; Inheritance; practical measures to
file a case; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women.

It should be
noted that the training is conducted by a number of specialized trainers from
PCHR: Sameer Hassaniya and Hanan Mattar, lawyers in Women’s Rights Unit, and
Mona al-Shawa, Director of Women’s Rights Unit. 
Besides, Mr. Sa’id Abu al-Jabeen, Judge of Shari’a Supreme Court, contributes
to the training.