2018-03-14

West Bank and Gaza Strip

West Bank / Gaza / Announcement

The Civic Coalition for Judicial Reform and Protection is Launched

Wednesday, March 14th 2018 – Representatives of several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) concerned with judicial affairs, law faculties, and trade unions gathered at the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) in Ramallah and Gaza City via video conference, where they announced the official launch of the Civic Coalition for Judicial Reform and Protection and chose a leadership framework for the coalition.

The meeting was held at the invitation of The Civil Commission for the independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL), the ICHR, the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO), and the Council of Human Rights Organizations. The meeting was attended by representatives of 45 NGOs, unions, coalitions, university colleges, and independent actors, all of whom were considered the founding body of the Coalition, in addition to other institutions which expressed their desire to join the coalition even though they did not participate in today's meeting. The participants discussed the final draft of the Coalition’s regulations, which was submitted by the committee assigned with making amendments to the draft proposed by ISTIQLAL in the meeting held on 08/02/2018. Today, suggestions were given to make modifications to the regulations, which are to be taken care of by the Executive Board.

In the meeting, it was decided that the Executive Board of the Coalition will include in its membership Ziayd Najjar from the Bar Association in Gaza, Hazem Sharawi from Hemaya Center for Human Rights, Alaa’ Skafi from Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, Aya Al-Moghrabi from the Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution, all of whom are from the Gaza Strip. From the West Bank, the Board will include in its membership Azmi Al-Shuaibi from AMAN, Abdullah Hammad from Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center, Jihad Harb from the Civil Commission for the Independence of the Judiciary, Bassam Al-Qawasmeh from the Faculty of Law at Hebron University, Sahar Al-Qawasmeh from ADWAR, Luna Areikat from QADER, Alaa’ Badarneh from Hurryat, Mahmoud Ziyadeh from Independent Unions, and Ahlam Tarayra from MUSAWA. All members shall be considered at all times representatives of their institutions throughout the course of the Coalition’s work, which equals one year.

In addition, the ICHR, the Council of Human Rights Organizations, and PNGO will join the Coalition as observer-members and supporters of the Coalition.

During the meeting, a consultative council was chosen for the Coalition, who will join the Executive Board in their meetings and policy-making process. The consultative council includes Adviser Issa Abu-Sharar, Adv. Fahad Al-Shweiki, and Adv. Ali Shqeirat, given that they are independent jurists who are concerned with judicial matters.

In its capacity as the hosting party of the Coalition, ISTIQLAL was assigned by the participants to call the elected executive committee as well as the member consultants and observers for an urgent meeting to approve the Coalition’s by-laws and develop an action plan for the first year of the Coalition’s work, given that the executive committee’s course of work will last one year as of today.