Ref: 29/2007

Date: 14 May  2007

PCHR and Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Organize a Training Course for Lawyers on UN Human Rights Protection Mechanisms

On Monday morning, 14 May 2007, PCHR and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – Gaza opened a training course on the UN human rights protection mechanisms, which targets lawyers working in civil society organizations in the Gaza Strip.

In his opening speech, Mr. Salama Bsaisu, Head of the Palestine Bar Association, welcomed the participants in the course, and thanked PCHR and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for their distinguished role in promoting the culture of human rights and the rule of law. He further pointed out the Palestine Bar Association’s persistent efforts to serve lawyers and enhance their professional capabilities, in cooperation with civil society organizations, which seek to promote the culture of law and human rights. He further expressed wishes for the participant to demonstrate effective participation to gain more practical knowledge.

In his speech, Mr. Jaber Wishah, Deputy Director of PCHR, focused on the current critical Palestinian situation, emphasizing that human rights issues have now a special importance as they express the deep pains felt by each Palestinian from the horrible phenomena, which undermine the enjoyment of the rights to self-determination and independence. He also stressed the importance of the role that can be played by lawyers and demanded them to speak loudly.

Dr. Tariq al-Hanafi, from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, indicated that the 20-hour course would last for 3 days (14 – 16 May 2007), and the number of lawyers participating in it is 24 representing 11 NGOs active in providing legal services to the Palestinian population throughout the Gaza Strip.

In his speech, Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR Training Unit, pointed out that the course aims at providing lawyers working in civil society organizations with necessary knowledge and skills to use the UN human rights protection mechanisms. He also stated that the course would focus on a number of subjects, including: International Human Rights Law; International Humanitarian law; UN human rights bodies; human rights contractual mechanisms; UN human rights protection mechanisms; Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors; the independence of the judiciary; and Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.

The training is conducted by a number of specialized trainers: Judge ‘Abdul Qader Jarada; Judge Zaher al-Saqqa; Mr. Saber al-Nairab and Dr. Tariq al-Hanafi, from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Mr. Bassam al-Aqra’, from PCHR; Mr. Bassem Bushnaq, from the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights; and Mr. Eyad Nasser, from the ICRC.