2016-12-22

Gaza & Rafah

Human Rights Defenders / Gaza

On the occasion of the international day of human rights and human rights defenders, MUSAWA organized a workshop on the reality of human rights defenders in Palestine in terms of their rights and the means available to protect them. The workshop was conducted in cooperation with the Palestinian Human Rights Defenders (PHRDs) Network, the National Society for Democracy and Law, and the Palestinian Youth Media Rally at the rally’s hall in Rafah. The workshop targeted a number of lawyers, media figures, journalists and others who are interested in the field. A total number of 23 people attended the workshop, including 9 female participants.

A similar workshop was carried-out by MUSAWA at the Palestinian Red Crescent’s hall in Gaza. A total of 55 people attended the workshop, 9 of whom are female participants.

Generally speaking, the workshops aimed at spreading the culture of human rights in marginalized areas, introducing the community to the existence and importance of the PHRDs Network, spreading the Network’s goals and mission in order to broaden its memberships and encourage new members to join whether individuals or institutions, raising the legal awareness amongst community members, enabling marginalized groups of claiming their rights, and introducing them to the legal tools and mechanisms available for them to maintain these rights.

The topics discussed in both workshops included the following: introducing MUSAWA’s vision, mission and strategic goals; introducing the Palestinian Human Rights Defenders Project and speaking about the PHRDs Network’s most important activities. Also, there was a discussion on human rights defenders in the Palestinian Territories in terms of the nature of the work they do and the types of violations they face, in addition to the means available to protect them from such infringements. Moreover, the attendees stressed the vitality of implementing the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

At the end of the workshops, participants recommended that Palestinian human rights defenders should be offered legal protection, and that the community’s awareness on the important role defenders play should be raised. They also believe it is highly essential to demand the government to release and drop charges against all human rights defenders and others who were arrested for freely and peacefully expressing themselves. Finally, the attendees stressed the need to review local laws and legislation so as to ensure that they are in line with international standards. 

These workshops come as part of the project to empower Palestinian human rights defenders, conducted by MUSAWA both in the West Bank and Gaza, and supported by the European Union.