Ref: 9/2014

The Training Unit at the Palestinian
Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) organized this month 7 training courses one day
each on human rights, mechanisms of access to justice and judicial remedy for
Palestinian farmers and fishermen in the northern, central and southern Gaza
Strip. Each training course lasted for 4 hours. The Training Unit implemented
these courses in cooperation with 6 societies interested in the affairs of
farmers and fishermen throughout the Gaza Strip. A total of 131 farmers,
including 48 female farmers, working in Access Restricted Areas (ARA)
participated in the training.  In
addition, 31 fishermen working off Khan Yunis shore participated.

Each training was divided into 3
sessions. Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit, gave a brief
summary about PCHR and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Al-Aqra’
facilitated the first session, as he addressed the concept of human rights and
the International Bill of Human Rights. The second session tackled the concept
of the right to adequate housing, land and property under international humanitarian  and human rights law.

Ms. Ahlam al-Aqra’, lawyer at PCHR’s
Legal Aid Unit, facilitated the third session. She talked about the legal
assistance mechanisms offered by PCHR to farmers and fishermen who are victims
of human right violations. She introduced the work of PCHR’s Legal Aid Unit and
explained the mechanisms to defend victims. Ms. Al-Aqra’ talked about the
mechanisms used to achieve judicial remedy for farmers.  She also addressed the importance of
monitoring and documenting these violations as a prelude to achieving justice
for victims and legally following them up. 
She informed the fishermen and farmers to go to PCHR in case their
rights were violated in order to receive legal assistance and follow up to
their cases.

At the end of each training, questions
were raised by farmers and farmers and legal consultations were offered.

The training courses were as follows:

– On 10 February
2014, in cooperation with al-Fokhari Society for Rural Women Development in
Khan Yunis, a training course was held in the society. 17 farmers, including 4
employees from the society, attended;

– On 13 February
2014, in cooperation with al-Quds Society for al-Mawasi Development in Khan
Yunis, a training course was held in the society. 31 fishermen working off Khan
Yunis shore attended;

– On 15 February
2014, in cooperation with the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun, in the northern
Gaza Strip, a training course was held in a farm belonging to Ramadan Abu
Ghazal in Beit Hanoun. 26 farmers attended;

– On 17 February
2014, in cooperation with Women Development Society in al-Bureij refugee camp,
in the central Gaza Strip, a training course was held in the society. 23 female
farmers from the east of al-Bureij refugee camp and Johr al-Deek attended;

– On 18 February
2014, in cooperation with the Agricultural Society in Um al-Nasser village, in
the northern Gaza Strip, a training course was held in the society. 26 farmers
attended;

– On 19 February
2014, in cooperation with Women Development Society in al-Bureij refugee camp,
in the central Gaza Strip, a training course was held in the society. 14
farmers attended; and

– On 20 February
2014, in cooperation with al-Insan Development Society in al-Qarara in Khan
Yunis, a training course was held in the society. 25 female farmers attended;

These training courses are intensive and
speficially address farmers and fishermen and take 1 day each.  The
training unit designed a training program addressing the needs of both
categories in conformity with their harsh conditions and educational
level.  These courses are also part of an 8-month joint project titled
“Improving Access to Justice.” It is implemented by PCHR and NRC and targets
farmers and fishermen in the Gaza Strip.