Ref: 28/2008

Date: 17 July 2008

PCHR Organizes a Training Course on Human Rights and Gender in Khan Yunis in Cooperation with Civil Society Groups

On 17 July 2008, PCHR Training Unit concluded a training course on human rights and gender in the Central Gaza Strip. It is the second course of its kind in 2008 targeting female civil society activists in the Gaza Strip. The first course was organized in Khan Yunis earlier this month.

The course was held in the Maghazi Cultural Center in Maghazi refugee camp from 13-17 July 2008 with a total of 20 training hours. Nineteen female civil society activists from 6 organizations participated in the course.

Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training Unit, pointed that the course includes special sessions on women’s rights derived from the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Topics include the historical development of the convention; the concept of discrimination; state responsibilities towards women; women’s legal rights; political participation; women’s social and economic rights; The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; gender; and the death penalty.

The training is conducted by a team of specialized trainers from PCHR that included: Lawyer Sharif Abu Nassar, from the Legal Aid Unit; Mona al-Shawa, Sameer Hassaniya, and Majeda Shihada, from the Women’s Rights Unit; and Bassam al-Aqra; from the Training Unit. Dr. Bassam Abu Hashish, a lecturer at al-Aqsa University in Gaza, also contributes to the training.

The trainees commended the PCHR’s efforts to disseminate human rights culture among female civil society activists. They also pointed to the importance of the course content and training methods. The training was characterized by effective participation and discussion.

Certificates were distributed to the trainees at the end of the course.