Annual Report - Palestinian Center for Human Rights

Conference of Solidarity with the Palestinian People – France
From 7 to 9 May 2005, PCHR participated in the conference organized by Solidarity
with the Palestinian People in Paris. Due to the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip by
IOF, PCHR was represented by a non-staff member, Luna Abu Swaireh, who detailed
the human rights situation in the OPT, as well as PCHR's positions and demands in
this regard: an end to the Israeli occupation of the OPT; the enforcement of
international humanitarian law; the implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by
the International Court of Justice concerning the construction of the Annexation Wall
in the OPT; and the real face of the Israeli Disengagement Plan in the Gaza Strip as
part of Sharon's strategy to drive the attention away from Israeli practices in Palestine.
Meetings in Spain
On invitation from the al-Quds Association for Cooperation with the Arab World, the
Head of the Women and Children’s Rights Unit, Mona Shawa, visited Spain from 23
to 28 May 2005, to establish relations and networks with Spanish NGOs. During her
visit, Shawa held meetings with members of Women's Support in Malaga; members
of the al-Quds Association for Cooperation with the Arab World; the Mayor of
Malaga; the Governor of Malaga; and a speaker from the Andalusia Parliament.
During these meetings, Shawa talked about PCHR's activities and the nature of
activities conducted by the Women and Children’s Rights Unit. In addition, Shawa
delivered a number of lectures on the suffering of Palestinian women and the
activities conducted by the Women and Children’s Rights Unit. During her visit,
Shawa received an award from the Governor of Malaga in appreciation of efforts
made by the Women and Children’s Rights Unit. Shawa presented PCHR's souvenir
emblem to the Governor of Malaga.
Discusion on the International Criminal Court and the Iraqi Criminal Court –
Jordan
From 27 to 29 May 2005, Director of PCHR, Raji Sourani, participated in a
discussion organized by FIDH in Amman on the International Criminal Court and the
Iraqi Criminal Court for Crimes against Humanity. The discussion took the form of
two separate sessions on issues relating to the International Criminal Court, in the
context of national and international justice and the criticism directed by a number of
international and regional human rights organizations against the Iraqi Criminal Court
for Crimes against Humanity. Sourani headed the first session in his capacity as the
Vice-President of FIDH.
Meeting of the General Assembly of the International Association of Democratic
Lawyers – France
On 10 June 2005, Director of PCHR, Raji Sourani, participated in the meeting of the
International Association of Democratic Lawyers in France. The meeting discussed
the development of an international campaign in favor of Palestine. During the
meeting, in which activists from all over the world participated, Sourani talked about
developments related to the human rights situation in the OPT.
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