Annual Report - Palestinian Center for Human Rights

al-Krunz, Head of the Budget and Financial Affairs Committee at the Palestinian
Legislative Council; Hijazi al-Qershalli, the Legal Advisor of the General
Personnel Council; a number of members of the Association of the Retired; and a
number of employees of the public sector participated in the workshop. The
participants discussed the law and called upon the executive, the legislature and
beneficiaries to contribute to effective monitoring of the implementation of the
law.
• On 22 June 2005, the unit organized a workshop on the role of municipalities in
providing basic services, taking Deir al-Balah as an example. The workshop was
held at Deir al-Balah Service Club. The mayor of Deir al-Balah; current and
former members of the municipal council; representatives from various NGOs; and
a number of other interested people participated in this workshop. At the
conclusion of the workshop, the attendees held a discussion, in which they
complained of the continued suffering of citizens in Deir al-Balah due to the
shortage of basic services, especially drinking water and adequate facilities at the
beach. The attendees called also upon the Palestinian National Authority,
especially the Ministry of Local Government, to increase budgets devoted to
municipalities in order to give them the means to carry out their duties properly
with regard to providing basic services. They also called for equality in provision
of drinking water, without depriving any area of water. They further called for
allowing citizens to participate in the process of decision making, particularly with
regard to basic services provided by the Municipality. During the workshop, the
unit head submitted a working paper on the right to receive basic services.
• On 24 July 2005, the unit organized a workshop at PCHR's office in Gaza City on
women's right to health, in the context of efforts to promote women's economic,
social and cultural rights. Representatives from the Ministry of Health, UNRWA
Health Department, NGOs and women's organizations participated in the
workshops. The workshop discussed mechanisms to promote women's right to
health and the allocation of budgets specifically for women's health and
development. The participants concluded a number of recommendations,
including provision of free health services for women; enhancement of the
cooperation and coordination involved in provision of health services; contribution
to strategic plans to promote women's right to health; and focusing on the role of
the media in raising the awareness of girls.
• On 24 November 2005, the unit organized a workshop entitled “Developing
Mechanisms of Fighting Poverty: An Evaluation of the Palestinian Experience”.
The workshop was organized as part of PCHR's efforts to reinforce the economic,
social and cultural rights of Palestinians, particularly the right to an adequate
standard of living. Representatives from the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of
Labour and Social Affairs attended the workshop alongside academics,
development experts and representatives from NGO’s working in the fields of
development, health, relief and human rights. A number of issues regarding the
particular Palestinian experience in this area were raised at the workshop. The
workshop ended with a discussion on the importance of developing mechanisms to
fight poverty, develop governmental and NGO plans and strategies, and rebuild
trust between governmental and non-governmental institutions. These issues are
essential in order to aid the creation of a relationship of transparency and
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