On
3 December 2007, PCHR hosted a high-profile delegation from the International
Commission of Jurists (ICJ) consisting of Mr. Nicolas Howen (ICJ
Secretary-General) and Sa’id Bin Arabi (Legal Advisor for Middle East and North
Africa). The delegation was on a 6-day mission to monitor the human rights
situation in the OPT and Israel.
The
delegation started their 2-day trip to Gaza by meeting PCHR’s Board of
Directors. Then they met representatives of the civilian judicial system headed
by the Deputy Chief Justice Yehia Abu Shahla. The judges gave an overview of the
situation of the judicial system at the current time, and the obstacles they
face. In addition to the judges, representatives from the Attorney-General’s
Office, Bar Association, and human rights organizations were present at the
meeting. The participants discussed the catastrophic impact of the closure on
the Gaza Strip on its civilian population.
After the meeting, the delegation went on a field visit to the northern Gaza
Strip. They visited Jabalia refugee camp to assess the situation of the civilian
population, including the deterioration in the health and living standards and
destruction of infrastructure. The delegation visited the houses of FArid Abu
Odeh and Dr. Wahid Saleh who were killed by Israeli shelling.
On
the second day of their visit, the delegation met several representatives of
civil society organizations in the fields of agriculture, education,
humanitarian assistance and rule of law. The meeting discussed the humanitarian
situation in the Gaza Strip and the impact of the Israeli closure on the
civilian population and all sectors of life.
The
delegation then met Dr. Basem Na’im (Minister of Health) and Sa’id Seyam (former
Minister of Interior) to discuss the impact of the Israeli closure on different
sectors, most notably the health sector, in addition to discussing the human
rights situation in the Gaza Strip.
The
delegation’s last meeting was with PCHR staff in the Center’s Gaza office.
The
ICJ is an international non-governmental organization working to promote the
rule of law and to provide legal protection to human rights and victims of human
rights violations worldwide. The ICJ has 60 commissioners who are senior judges
and lawyers from various parts of the world. In addition, there are 47
organizations affiliated with the ICJ, including PCHR.
It
is noted that this is the third time that an ICJ Secretary-General visits the
OPT since 1976 when the then Secretary-General Niel McDerman visited the area.
