2016-07-30

West Bank & Gaza

Human Rights Defenders / West Bank / Gaza / Announcement

Throughout July 2016, eight meetings in eight different areas (Ramallah, Jerusalem and Jericho; Salfeet and Nablus; Tulqarm and Qalqilya; Jenin and Tubas; Bethlehem and Hebron; Gaza and North Gaza; Gaza’s Middle Governorate; Khan Yunis and Rafah) were carried-out by MUSAWA in cooperation with the Palestinian Human Right Defenders Network. The meetings were attended by 114 male and female members (59 females and 55 males), who aimed at reaching an agreement on the mechanism by which members will implement the Network’s activities in the upcoming period, forging its internal regulations, contributing to the expansion of the Coalition for Palestinian Human Rights Defenders Declaration (PHRDD), and taking part in monitoring and raising awareness about the next local council elections.

The meetings addressed several issues, including reviewing MUSAWA’s proposal for the Network’s membership system; activating the role played by the societal lobbying coalition pushing-forward the PHRDD; planning for awareness workshops about the right to elect and stand for elections; and nominating members from the Network to join MUSAWA’s elections monitoring team.

At the end of the mentioned meetings, participants recommended to nominate members from all regions to join MUSAWA’s elections monitoring team; amend MUSAWA’s proposal regarding memberships within the Network; agree on working towards expanding the Network by adding new members; expand the PHRDD Coalition by inviting new lobbying parties to join; and organize an awareness workshop in marginalized areas regarding the right to elect and stand for elections.

These meetings come as part of the Empowering Palestinian Human Rights Defenders project, implemented by MUSAWA in the West Bank and Gaza, and supported by the European Union.