Ref: 12/2009

Date: 25 May 2009

PCHR Organizes Panel Discussion in Khan Yunis on the Right to Peaceful Assembly under PNA Rule

On Monday, 25 May 2009, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) Democratic Development Unit (DDU) organized, in cooperation with the National Association for Democracy and Law (NADL) and Palestine Vanguards Association (PVA), a panel discussion on “the Right to Peaceful Assembly under the Rule of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).” The activity took place in PVA’s office and was attended by approximately 20 university students, new graduates and volunteers in civil society organizations.

This workshop is part of a series of activities organized by PCHR, in cooperation with other civil society organizations, which intend to enhance and develop democracy in Palestinian society. These meetings aim to promote public awareness with respect to the principles of democracy, and to strengthen and enhance these principles in Palestinian society. PCHR regard such activities as essential in light of Palestinians deteriorating faith in the democratic process. This deterioration has arisen consequent to the international community’s boycott of the results of the Palestinian legislative elections of January 2006 and as a result of the internal fragmentation and its consequent destructive impact on the Palestinian national cause.

Salah Abu Hatab, social activist, facilitated this panel discussion.  Mahmoud al-Efranji, a researcher in PCHR’s DDU, presented a paper on the right to peaceful assembly. The meeting was concluded by inviting participants to an open discussion on the principle of peaceful assembly, international standards and domestic laws regulating the organization of peaceful assembly and the status of the right to peaceful assembly under PNA rule.