Concluding Ceremony of the Assessment of Meeting on Judicial Training Curriculum Development
On Thursday, 29 March 2011, the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit University (BZU), concluded the Assessment of Meeting on Judicial Training Curriculum Development – 2nd Term. The programme is implemented by the Initiative on Judicial Independence and Human Dignity (KARAMAH) in partnership with the High Judicial Council (HJC).
The event was observed by Chief Justice Farid al Jallad, HJC Chairman, Dr. Khalil Hindi, BZU President, Dr. Alan Wildeman, President of the University of Windsor (UWindsor), several Palestinian and Canadian distinguished justices, and IoL staff.
This Assessment Meeting culminates an activity made by 22 Palestinian judges over a period of one year. Judges have worked on developing judicial training curricula and materials in five areas: evidence, labour, power of attorney, and penal and civil procedure. Today’s event was preceded by elaborate meetings between judges, who developed judicial training materials, and colleague judges, educational advisors and IoL legal researchers. Preparations were crowned with pilot meetings, which were held on the previous day in order to assess assessment trainings delivered by judges on the reported day.
70 judges from across Palestinian courts were invited to the Meeting. Participants were allocated to workshops, each of which addressed one of the five themes mentioned above.
The Judicial Training Curriculum Development programme was evaluated in order to shed light on successful and short performance of trainer judges, who compiled the judicial training materials, and how these can be coped with in their future trainings. To void erroneous application or gaps, the meeting assessed whether the training material met training needs of Palestinian judges. Accordingly, the material would be approved for future judicial training programmes and activities, including those delivered by the Palestinian Judicial Institute (PJI) or other bodies.
Following the Assessment Meeting, a graduation ceremony was organised for judges who participated in the 2nd round of the Judicial Training Curriculum Development programme. Stressing his pride of the results attained by this endeavour, Chief Justice Al Jallad expressed his hope that it can be utilised in practice and contribute to developing and promoting judicial training in other areas. Al Jallad expressed his thanks and gratitude to BZU, IoL and KARAMAH for the significant efforts they have made to render this programme a success. Also commending Canadian justices, the Chief Justice thanked Palestinian judges who participated in the programme, highlighting their diligent effort and unrelenting devotion. He further confirmed that this effort will be taken into account when relevant bodies select judicial trainers in the future.
Elaborating on its idea, Dr. Hindi explained that the Judicial Training Curriculum Development programme focuses on the role of judges in public life. “They contribute to creating an enabling environment, a fundamental pillar of which is that citizens enjoy dignity and human rights.” Dr. Hindi highlighted the close cooperation between BZU and UWindsor, declaring that “today is not end, but a transition in which we celebrate participating judge who will set out on a noble mission.” As a hub of justice and state building processes, judges will contribute to consolidating concepts of equality, justice, human dignity and judicial independence.
Dr. Wildeman expounded that “implementation of this programme in Palestine is extremely significant.” Stressing importance of exchanged ideas and expertise, Dr. Wildeman expressed his hope that results of this programme would positively impact on justice sector actors’ performance in the Palestinian territory.
Dr. ‘Uthman at Takrouri, High Court judge, made a briefing note about the programme’s idea and goal. He stressed that the Judicial Training Department “will continue to develop and produce final training packages as a curriculum to be taught at the PJI.”
Dr. ‘Uthman at Takrouri, High Court judge, made a briefing note about the programme’s idea and goal. He stressed that the Judicial Training Department “will continue to develop and produce final training packages as a curriculum to be taught at the PJI.”
Having conferred certificates on graduates, Dr. Mudar Qassis, Co-director of KARAMAH, thanked participating judges, KARAMAH team and BZU for their dedication and contribution to this milestone success.
Implemented in partnership between the IoL and Windsor Law School, KARAMAH has benefited from financial support of the Government of Canada provided through CIDA.
