GAZA, April 2, 2010 (WAFA)- The Training Unit in the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) concluded Thursday a training course in the field of human rights and gender issues, which was organized in cooperation with the Fares al-Arab Society in Gaza City.
The 20-hour course was held in the office of the Society in Rafah in the period March 28– April 1. The number of participants in the course was 23 persons, representing 10 community-based organizations in Gaza City.
The course focused on a number of international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Convention on the Rights of the Child; and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, political participation and gender issues.
The training was conducted by a number of specialized trainers from PCHR: Samir Hasaniya, Lawyer in PCHR Women's Right Unit; Sharif Abu Nassar, Lawyer in PCHR Legal Aid Unit; Majda Shhada, Researcher in PCHR Women's Right Unit; Bassam al-Aqra', Director of PCHR Training Unit; Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit. Salah Abu Hatab, a social activist, also contributed to the training.
In the conclusion of the course, Zuhair Madhi, Head of the Bord of Fares al-Arab Society, thanked PCHR for its efforts to disseminate the human rights culture in the Palestinian society, to restore the trust of Palestinians in human rights and democracy, especially light of its setback over the past 5 years.
Jaber Wishah, Deputy Director of PCHR, stated that this course is part of a 3-year project, funded by the European Union and Oxfam Novib, whose goal is to raise awareness and respect of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He called on the trainees to disseminate the human rights concepts they learnt in their surrounding community in order to achieve the aspired change. Bassam al-Aqra', Director of PCHR Training Unit, stated that this course is part of long-term efforts made by PCHR to promote human rights and gender issues in the Palestinian society, in cooperation with civil society organizations. He added that PCHR is ready to offer its services to all, hoping that this course is a fruitful start for a good relationship between PCHR and civil society organizations and the public.
The participants highly appreciated efforts made by PCHR to restore Palestinians' trust in human rights and democracy, especially following the setback incurred to such trust over the past years. A trainee, Jamal Farawana, said that the course contributed to raising participants' awareness of human rights and gender concepts. Another trainee, Abeer Sha'at, stated that the course was distinguished in the issues it focused on. She further appreciated the efficiency of trainers, and the training methods, which contributed to enriching effective participation and fruitful discussion.
Certificates were then handed to participants by Zuhair Madhi, Jaber Wishah and Bassam al-Aqra'.
