Ref: 05/2007

Date: 25 February  2007

PCHR Starts a Training Course on Economic and Social Rights

PCHR’s training unit and the Gaza Strip Union of Medical Professions launched a training course on Saturday, 24 February 2007, for union members on economic and social rights. The course is held at the Union office in Gaza City. It will run for 6 days and cover a total of 18 training hours. Thirty Union members are participating in the course.

It is noted that this is the first training course organized by PCHR in coordination with the Union of Medical Professions. The course was designed after preliminary discussions with the Union, which led to specifying course material to matter relevant to the Union’s needs.

The course covers a number of international conventions on human rights including the Universal Declaration for Human Rights, International Covenant for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, and the International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The course covers topics such as the right to work, the right to healthcare, the right to form and join trade unions, civil service law, and the role of PCHR is upholding workers’ rights.

A group of specialized trainers conduct the training, including: Bassam El-Aqra (director of PCHR’s training unit), Khalil Shahin (director of PCHR’s economic and social rights unit), Ashraf Nasrallah (lawyer in PCHR’s legal unit), Elias El-Jelda (labor union activist), Dr. Bassam Abu Hashish (lecturer at Al-Aqsa University), and Hilmi Barzaq (lawyer in the Ministry of Labor).