Conference

The New Palestinian Government and the Human Rights Agenda

 

Agenda

Day 1: Wednesday, 21 June 2006

09:00       Registration

09:30       Introduction: Mr. Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Official Opening: Mr. Ismail Haniya, Palestinian Prime Minister

 

10:30       1^st Session: Civil and Political Rights (Part 1)

Chairperson: Dr. Mudar Qissis, Director of the Law Institute, Birzeit University

1.      The Right to Security and Personal Integrity: Towards Ending Security Chaos and Attacks against the Rule of Law (Dr. Abdul Rahman Bsaisu, a cultural critic)

2.      The Right to Peaceful Assembly: The Executive Bill of the Public Meetings Law (12) of 1998 (Mr. Mohammed Dahman, Director of Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, Gaza)

3.      The Right to Free Association: Attempts to constrain work of NGOs (Dr. Abdul Rahman Abu al-Nasser, Professor of Law, al-Azhar University, former Head of Palestine Bar Association)

4.      The Palestinian Government’s Vision (Mr. Said Siam, Minister of Interior)

5.      Discussion

 

12:00       Coffee Break

 

12:30       2^nd Session: Civil and Political Rights (Part 2)

Chairperson: Mr. Abdul Karim Abu Salah, Head of the Legislation Council and former Minister of Justice

1.      The Right to Life: The Death Penalty under the Palestinian National Authority (Mr. Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights)

2.      The Right to Free Expression: Towards Reconsidering the Press Law of 1995 (Mr. Hassan al-Kashef, a journalist and author)

3.      The Right to Political Participation: Further Steps towards Democratic Reform (Mr. Hamdi Shaqqura, Director of Democratic Development Unit, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights)

4.      The Palestinian Government’s Vision (Dr. Yousef Rizqa, Minister of Information)

5.      Discussion

 

14:00       Lunch Break

 

15:00       3^rd Session: The Rights of Women and Groups

                 Facilitator: Ms. Naila Ayash, Director of Women’s Affairs Center

 

1.      Women’s Rights: What Does the Feminist Movement Want from the New Government (Ms. Nadia Abu Nahla, Director of Women’s Affairs Technical Committee)

2.      The Rights of the Retired: Towards Application of the General Retirement Law (7) of 2005 (Dr. Saadi al-Krunz, former Minister of Communications, former chairman of the Budget Committee in the Palestinian Legislative Council)

3.      Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails (Khalil Abu Shamala, Director of Al Dameer Human Rights Organisation, Gaza)

4.      The Rights of the Disabled: Towards the Application of the Law on the Rights of Disabled Palestinians (4) of 1999 (Mr. Khalil Shaheen, Director of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights)

5.      The Palestinian Government’s Vision (Dr. Gazi Hamad, Spokesperson for the Palestinian Government)

6.      Discussion

 

17:00 End of the First Day

 

Day 2: Thursday, 22 June 2006

 

09:00       Registration

 

10:00       1^st Session: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Part 1)

Chairperson: Dr. Ibrahim Abrash

 

1.      The Right to Adequate Housing: Evaluation of Housing Project for People Whose Houses Have Been Destroyed (Dr. Bassam Abu Hasheesh, al-Aqsa University)

2.      The Right to Work: Mechanisms to End Unemployment and Poverty (Ms. Eitemad Muhanna, Development Specialist)

3.      The New Government’s Platform from the Perspective of the Right to Development (Mr. Omar Shaban, Human Development Specialist)

4.      The Palestinian Government’s Vision (Eng. Alaa al-Aaraj, Minister of National Economy)

5.      Discussion

 

11:30       Coffee Break

 

12:00       2^nd Session: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Part 2)

Chairperson: Dr. Riad al-Zanoun, Head of the Administration Board of Gaza Community Mental Health Programme and former Minister of Health

 

1.      The Right to Health: Deterioration in Health Conditions in Light of Blockade of International Aid and the Siege (Dr. Majdi Aashour, Researcher in Health Policies and Administration)

2.      Towards Activation of Cultural Life in Palestine (Mr. Ahmed Dahbour, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture)

3.      The Right to Education: Impacts of the Siege and Boycott on the Educational Sector (Professor Aamer al-Khatib, Professor of the Philosophy of Education, al-Azhar University)

4.      The Palestinian Government’s Vision (Dr. Bassem Naim, Minister of Health)

 

13:30       Lunch Break

 

14:30       General Discussion

 

15:30       General Conclusion and End of the Conference

                 Mr. Raji Sourani

 

……………………………………………………………

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip tel/fax: +972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893

email: pchr@pchrgaza.org      website: www.pchrgaza.org