Ref: 52/2011

On Wednesday morning, 14 September 2011, the Palestinian Centre for
Human Rights (PCHR) received the Representative of Switzerland to the
Palestinian National Authority, Ronald Steininger, and the Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law Adviser in the Swiss Representative Office, in
PCHR’s head offices in Gaza City.
 

The two visitors met with Iyad Alami, Deputy Director of PCHR for
Legal and Administrative Affairs, and Hamdi Shaqqura, Deputy Director of PCHR
for Program Affairs. At the meeting the
human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially the
illegal closure imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip for several and years and
its impact of the daily lives and fundamental human rights of the Palestinian
civilian population, including their isolation from the outside world was
discussed.

The meeting further addressed the repercussions of the Palestinian
political division and the need to promote the atmosphere of reconciliation as
a priority, with emphasis on the importance of the European support to ensure
success for efforts of reconciliation. Additionally, the meeting discussed the
current situation of the Palestinian judiciary and the repercussions of the
political division on it. There was an
emphasis on the need to restore the dignity of the Palestinian judiciary to act
as an independent authority away from politicization and political
considerations. 

On Tuesday afternoon, 13 September 2011, PCHR received Saul
Takahashi, Deputy Head of the Offices United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (UNHCHR) and Saber al-Nairab, Human Rights Officers in the UNHCHR
Office in Gaza. The visitors met with
Hamdi Shqqura, Deputy Director of PCHR for Program Affairs. The meeting discussed future cooperation
between PCHR and UNHCHR Office and other common issues.