2017-04-06

Bethlehem, Nablus, Gaza

West Bank / Gaza

MUSAWA – The Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession conducted training courses for the Lawyers for the Rule of Law Groups (friends of MUSAWA) in Bethlehem, Nablus, and Gaza governorates. The training focused was focused on the monitoring and documentation of rights-violations, and human rights as prescribed in international conventions. A total of 86 members attended the training courses both in the West Bank and Gaza, including 39 female lawyers. The facilitators were chosen from the Lawyers for the Rule of Law Groups themselves.

The trainings were conducted for the overall purpose of expanding the members’ knowledge of human rights and international treaties, and raising their awareness on the general concept of monitoring and documentation so as to ensure that they are capable of fulfilling their duties by monitoring violations against the rule of law. In addition, the lawyers were introduced to the rights which form the foundation of MUSAWA’s work: the right to fair trial guarantees, the right to equality before the law and the judiciary, and the right to access to justice. Finally, the lawyers were trained on how to connect the theoretical aspect of international treaties to the practical aspect, especially when it comes to the treaties that are directly related to the rights of lawyers or those of their clients.

At the end of each training, the participants gave recommendations based on their experiences. These recommendations included a demand for more trainings of this kind so as to build the lawyers’ capacities in practical life, with specific focus on their duty to monitor law-violations. The members also noted that it is highly essential to seek a mechanism for activating and implementing follow-up procedures on the ground and not only in theory.

This activity is supported by the UNDP.