Ref: 79/2011
The training
team of the Independent Civil Society Mission to Libya which includes members
from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), the Arab Organization for
Human Rights (AOHR) and the International Legal Aid Consortium (ILAC) continued
their activities during the few last days. On 20 November 2011, in cooperation with
AOHR and the Tripoli Bar Association, PCHR has started the second training
course. The Chairman of the Libyan Bar Association, together with Mr. Iyad
al-Alami, Advocate and PCHR Deputy Director for Administrative and Legal Affairs, and Head
of Legal Unit at PCHR, and Mr. Mutaz Bellah Uthman, Director of AOHR’s Legal
Unit, participated in the opening of the second training course.
The
twenty-one-hour training course which is the second course and targets law
enforcement officials in Libya will be concluded by Tuesday, 22 November 2011.
Approximately 45 judges, lawyers, members of the Prosecutor’s Office, and
police officers participated in the course.
This second
training course covered different subjects, including an introduction to human
rights concepts, such as: terminology and instruments; International Bill of
Human Rights; mechanisms of human rights protection at the national level; an
introduction to international humanitarian law and international criminal
justice; the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court; transitional justice;
prosecution of war criminals and universal jurisdiction; the rule of law;
separation of powers; guarantees of fair trial; and the role of the lawyers and
judiciary, including judges, members of the Office of the Prosecutor, and law
enforcement officials in protecting human rights.
The training
team included experienced trainers from PCHR and AOHR as well as Arab and
foreign experts. Those giving training were:
1. Mr. Raji
al-Sourani, Director of PCHR;
2. Mr. Iyad
al-Alami – Advocate, PCHR Deputy Director for Administrative and Legal Affairs, and Head
of Legal Unit at PCHR
3. Mr. Bassam
al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Trainign Unit;
4. Dr. Ameen
Mekki Madani is a prominent lawyer from Sudan, and former President of the Arab
Organization for Human Rights;
5. Ameena Abu
Aish is president of the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights;
6. Agnetta
Johansson is a lawyer and ILAC Deputy Director;
7. William
Meryer is a lawyer and former ILAC president;
8. Mr. Mutaz
Bellah Uthman, Director of AOHR’s Legal Unit; and
9. Islam Abu al-Enein,
researcher at AOHR.
This is the
second training course of its kind in Tripoli. Between 17 and 19 November, PCHR
organized the first training course in cooperation with AOHR and the Tripoli
Bar Association. Approximately 40 lawyers and civil society activists in Libya
participated in this course. The twenty-one-hour training course addressed
different human rights topics, including: terminology and instruments;
International Bill of Human Rights; mechanisms of human rights protection at
the national level; an introduction to international humanitarian law and
international criminal justice; the Rome Statute and the International Criminal
Court; transitional justice; prosecution of war criminals and universal
jurisdiction; monitoring, investigation and documentation; and preparation of
human rights reports.
The training
team working in the first course included experienced trainers from PCHR and AOHR
as follows:
1. Mr. Raji
al-Sourani, Director of PCHR;
2. Mr. Iyad
al-Alami – Advocate, PCHR Deputy Director for Administrative and Legal Affairs, and Head
of Legal Unit at PCHR;
3. Mr. Bassam
al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Trainign Unit;
4. Ibtesam
Zaqqout, Director of PCHR’s Fieldwork Unit;
5. Mahmoud
al-Efranji, researcher at PCHR’ Democratic Development Unit;
6. Dr. Ameen
Mekki Madani is a prominent lawyer from Sudan, and former President of the Arab
Organization for Human Rights;
7. Ameena Abu
Aish is president of the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights;
8. Mr. Mutaz
Bellah Uthman, Director of AOHR’s Legal Unit; and
9. Islam Abu
al-Enein, researcher at AOHR.
The
participants, including judges, lawyers, members of the Office of the General
Prosecutor, law enforcement officers and civil society activists, showed
interest in the courses and the addressed subjects which were very relevant to
the updates in the Arab world and to crimes committed against civilians.
It should be
noted that the two training courses are a part of an initiative by PCHR and
AOHR and are aimed at building the capacities of participants to confront
crimes and human rights violations committed against civilians and at
guaranteeing holding perpetrators accountable. It should be noted that the
Independent Civil Society Mission to Libya, which is organized by PCHR, AOHR
and ILAC, also includes a Fact-Finding Mission and a training team. The Fact
Finding Mission seeks to investigate three principal subjects: suspected
violations of international law committed by the former Qadaffi government; by
the current government and associated groups since 17 February 2011; and by
NATO forces.
The Fact
Finding Mission started its activities on 17 November 2011. The members of the
Mission visited a number of sites in Tripoli, Khoms, Zleitn, Azzawiya and
Sabrata, where they: conducted field visits; interviewed victims, witnesses and
members of the political and military command; and visited a number of
detention centers. Meetings were also held with the Minister of Justice and the
Chairman of the Tripoli Bar of Association. Today, the Mission is heading to
western Libya where its members will visit areas such as Sirte, Misrata and
Tawergha.
Related Press Releases:
Independent Civil Society
Mission to Libya Begins
