Ref: 85/2010

On Wednesday, 24 November 2010, the Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights Unit in the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)
organized a workshop titled “The Right to Development and the Priorities
of Youth.”  It was held in
cooperation with the Hekr al-Jami’ Youth Center Society at the society’s
headquarters located in the central area of Deir al-Balah. The workshop was attended by 21 members of
the society.

Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights Unit welcomed the participants and emphasized that this
workshop is part of a series of lectures organized by the unit to raise awareness
on economic, social and cultural rights. Such workshops are organized by PCHR in coordination with
community-based organizations in the Gaza Strip.

Shaheen explained the concept of the right to development in
accordance with the December 1986 UN declaration. He focused on the dimensions
of and options available in the development of human capital, a necessity for
the achievement of comprehensive economic, social and political development,
including promoting the ability of citizens to seek resources and freedom to
distribute them. He also tackled the
obstacles hindering the development process; the most important of which is the
continuous violation of the national right to self-determination, pointing to
its impact on the deterioration of the economic and social conditions of the
Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Shaheen called for the promotion of
consolidating the Palestinian youth’s efforts to contribute to the creation of
sustainable development in Palestine as well as guaranteeing for them increased
opportunities for success and providing them with options by prioritizing their
economic, social and cultural needs.

The participants were divided into groups to discuss the formulation
and adoption of a comprehensive development plan to fit the youth’s priorities
and needs at the economic, social and cultural levels. In addition to combating poverty and
unemployment among young people, representatives of the groups presented a
number of recommendations on the development of programs focused on the
promotion of the youth’s educational, health and economic rights.