2016-10-31

West Bank & Gaza

Human Rights Defenders / West Bank / Gaza

Throughout October 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 and the Palestinian Human Right Defenders Network. The meetings were attended by 95 male and female members (49 females and 46 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, and contributing to the expansion of the Coalition for Palestinian Human Rights Defenders Declaration (PHRDD).

The meetings addressed several issues: the PHRDs Network’s role in monitoring, documenting and following-up violations against human rights defenders whether inside or outside the context of the Network; the plan which will support the implementation of tasks; the mechanisms available for improving the coalition; collecting and discussing the code-of-conduct drafts from all the groups so that a final version is adopted as a binding document for the members; creating badges for the members who are committed to attending meetings in order to facilitate their communication with official authorities – after finalizing their contact details; a discussion on holding a training session for the members in the monitoring and documentation of right-violations; conducting field visits to courts and prisons throughout this month in order to introduce the Network to official authorities and highlight its role.

At the end, participants reached the conclusion that it is of paramount importance to keep monitoring and documenting violations against the Network members or others, whether individuals or institutions. They were also able to come up with mechanisms to develop and expand the coalition, and coordinate field visits to courts and prisons in Palestine’s different governorates. Moreover, they pointed out the importance of establishing a group consisting of members from the Network to activate the legal clinic as well as the trial-monitoring unit. Furthermore, they agreed on holding a training session for the Network’s members in monitoring and documenting violations, and creating name badges for the members so that it becomes easier for them to perform their mission with official authorities.

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.