Annual Report - Palestinian Center for Human Rights

Means of Verification
o The unit organized one discussion group, which was attended by at least 200
people, 35% of whom were women.
o The unit delivered 19 lectures (30 training hours) at training programs organized
by PCHR's Training Unit.
o The unit’s staff members were speakers at nine meetings organized by other civil
society organizations.
o On 3 August, the unit head, the director of PCHR and the Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights Unit head received thankful letters from the Palestinian Journalist
Bloc in appreciation of their efforts to raise the awareness of the local society
about the rights and role of journalists in the context of a project implemented by
the bloc.
o The number of media interviews made with the unit’s staff members was 23.
o Activities against the death penalty and efforts to retrial those who have been
convicted by state security courts proved fruitful, as the death penalty was
temporarily halted and the President of the PNA took a decision to retrial those
who had previously been convicted by state security courts before the civil courts.
o Activities against the proliferation and misuse of weapons are part of community
efforts to create public opinion and pressure against internal violence and security
chaos.
4) Encouragement of Adoption of Legislation Based on Democratic Principles
and Respect for Human Rights
Verifiable Indicator
Report on activities.
The unit continued to carry out this activity, with a special focus on lobbying for the
amendment of laws relating to the organization of Palestinian elections. To this end,
the unit organized a number of meetings to discuss the issue of elections, as outlined
previously in this section. In addition, the unit sent three letters to the President of the
PNA, Mahmoud 'Abbas:
• On 7 February 2005, the unit, in cooperation with the Legal Aid Unit, sent a letter
to President 'Abbas concerning efforts to amend the Judicial Authority Law and
emphasizing PCHR's position in support of the independence of the judiciary.
• On 7 February 2005, the unit sent a letter to President 'Abbas encouraging the
abolishment of the death penalty and outlining the need to take serious action
against the misuse of weapons and the security chaos.
• On 6 June 2005, the unit sent a letter to President 'Abbas urging for the enactment
of a new electoral law and stressing the importance of holding the legislative
elections on the planned date. The letter explained PCHR's position towards the
second stage of elections of local councils.
Means of Verification
o A number of draft laws, which PCHR and other community groups made efforts
to endorse, were enacted:
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