Ref: 13/2006

Date:  25 April 2006

PCHR Organized an Honor Ceremony for the Central Election Commission and PCHR Observers Who Monitored the Second Palestinian Legislative Elections

On Monday morning, 24 April 2006, PCHR organized a ceremony at the YMCA headquarter in Gaza to honor the Central Election Commission (CEC) and observers who participated in the observation campaign organized by PCHR, in cooperation with 52 NGOs , to monitor the second Palestinian legislative elections, which were held on 25 January 2006.  The ceremony was attended by at least 600 persons, including observers, NGO representatives and journalists.  The ceremony included speeches by PCHR staff, representatives of NGOs which participated in the observation campaign, and a number of observers.  The ceremony also included handing PCHR’s souvenir emblem to the CEC, and certificates to observers, whose number of 512. 

Hamdi Shaqqura, Director of PCHR Democratic Development Unit and the person in charge of the observation campaign, opened the ceremony.  He highly appreciated the distinguished role played by the CEC in organizing and supervising the whole electoral process.  He also welcomed participating NGOs and their officials, and the role they play in supporting democratic reform.  At the end of his speech, Shaqqura congratulated the observers for their impressive role and the wonderful picture they drew for the role of NGOs in monitoring elections.  He further thanked the Austrian Representative Office to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) for supporting the project of monitoring over legislative elections. 

In his speech, Director of PCHR, Raji Sourani, highly appreciated the quiet and peaceful transition of authority at the PNA, and the positive steps taken in the process of democratic reform, including organizing the presidential election and elections of local councils in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  Sourani considered 25 January a historical day as it held two precedents; first, these elections were the first democratic ones to be held in an occupied country, despite the obstacles imposed by the occupation; and second, these elections were the first of their kind in the Arab World with such transparency and fairness, and their results reflect the people’s will.

Majid Abu Zaid, Regional Director of the CEC, talked about the role and activities of the CEC, and the standards of transparency and neutrality it has adopted.  He thanked local institutions and Palestinian security services, which made efforts to ensure success for the democratic process.  Abu Zaid asserted that the CEC started preparations to organize the last stage of elections of local councils. 

‘Aadel Abu Jahal, Deputy Head of the Palestine Bar Association, thanked PCHR and highly appreciated the role of observers in monitoring elections.  He criticized punishing the Palestinian people for their democratic choice, and called upon the international community to respects peoples’ choices. 

Hashem al-Thalathini, Director of the Palestinian Educational Association for Development, highlighted the transparency and fairness that characterized the second legislative elections.  He also thanked NGOs for the civilized picture they drew during elections.  He further highly appreciated efforts made by the CEC to organize and supervise elections. 

Khaleel Abu Shammal, Director of al-Dameer Association for Human Rights in Gaza, thanked all those who contributed to the success of elections, including NGOs which should be proud of the credibility they have gained in the society.  He particularly thanked PCHR for its unlimited role in monitoring all stages of elections. 

On behalf of observers, Wafa’ Qeshta talked about PCHR’s role in providing all facilities to ensure success for  monitoring elections, including training the observers; and Jihad al-Ghould talked about the success achieved by elections despite the severe environment, and he thanked PCHR for its efforts to ensure success for elections. 

At the end of the ceremony, Raj Sourani handed PCHR’s souvenir emblem to Majdi Abu Zaid in appreciation for the CEC’s role in organizing elections.  PCHR’s souvenir emblem is of symbolic value and PCHR usually presents it to distinguished local and international figures and organizations.  Honor certificates were also handed to PCHR observers, whose number is 512.