Ref: 10/2014

On Sunday, 02
March 2014, the Training Unit at the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
organized a one-day training course on human rights, mechanisms of access to
justice and judicial remedy for Palestinian female farmers in Khan Yunis.  The training course lasted for 4 hours.

The training
course was held in Beit al-Mostaqbal Association in Khaza’ah in Khan
Yunis.  Around 44 female farmers, who are
from Khaza’ah, ‘Abasan al-Kabirah and Abu T’eimah and works in the agricultural
lands adjacent to the border areas in the east of Khaza’ah, participated in the
course.

The training
course included 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, addressing
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’, a 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 human rights violations, which
particularly target farmers, as a prelude to achieving justice for victims and
legally pursuing them.  She also reviewed
a number of legal cases related to violations of farmers’ rights, which PCHR
managed to follow them up and achieve positive results.

She encouraged
the female farmers to refer to PCHR in case their rights were violated in order
to receive legal assistance and follow-up of their cases.

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

These courses
are 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.