2017-01-16

West Bank & Gaza

Human Rights Defenders / West Bank / Gaza

In January 2017, MUSAWA and the Palestinian Human Rights Defenders (hereinafter PHRDs) Network organized a regular meeting for the PHRDs coordinators in the West Bank and Gaza. A representative of the European Union attended the meeting, along with the coordinators and other members; a total of 31 members including 15 female participants.

The meeting addressed several topics: activities conducted by the Network throughout December; the importance of continuing to hold monthly meetings; preparing an agenda for January’s meetings; distributing the members’ name tags/cards and the Network’s brochure; preparing for the Network’s general meeting and how to contribute to its success; coordinating and conducting a training course in Gaza’s governorates on the monitoring and documentation of violations; and discussing the Network’s future contributions. 

At the end of the meeting, participants recommended that new methods be sought to ensure the continuation of the Network’s work. They also stressed the vitality of pursuing the approval of the Palestinian Human Rights Defenders Declaration so that human rights defenders are legally protected, organizing field visits to courts and prisons, carrying-out a local workshop, and publishing a short film to introduce the Network and stress its importance.

This meeting comes as part of a project to empower Palestinian human rights defenders, conducted by MUSAWA both in the West Bank and Gaza, with the support of the European Union.