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Integrating Gender Criteria in the Work of the Palestinian Judiciary

 
 
Institute of Law at Birzeit University and High Judicial Council Launch a Training Course on
Integrating Gender Criteria in the Work of the Palestinian Judiciary

Bethlehem: Friday, 8 October 2011 – In cooperation with the High Judicial Council (HJC), the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit University launched a specialised training course on Integrating Gender Criteria in the Work of the Palestinian Judiciary.

As part of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women in the occupied Palestinian territory, six UN Agencies, namely UNDP/PAPP, UN-Women, ILO, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNRWA, are implementing a Joint Programme funded by the Government of Spain on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, covering the period 2009-2012. The Program aims to achieve three major Outcomes:
 
  1. Reducing gender based violence and all form of violence against women and the girl child;
  2. Increasing the representation of women’s and women’s issues in decision making bodies;
  3. Advancing equal opportunities for women’s economic participation, especially women survivors of  gender based violence.
 
With reference to output 1.3 “Capacity to provide refuge, security, and access to justice strengthened” and output 2.2, “Organize training and workshops to raise awareness on gender in local authorities and related NGOs”, UNDP seeks to:
 
  1. Develop specialized curricula and training material and conduct training for judges, lawyers and prosecutors on gender issues and the provision of assistance to victims of violence and gender based violence.
  2. Provide gender awareness training to local government staff in 15 districts to develop their capacity on mainstreaming gender in district development planning and service provision.
 
Judge Mohammed Musallam inaugurated the training course. On behalf of the HJC Chairman, Judge Musallam highlighted significance of the training seminar on Integrating Gender Criteria in the Work of the Palestinian Judiciary, stating that it was part of a series of dialogues and events implemented by the IoL in collaboration with the HJC. Since justice is a major sector in the society, a gender-oriented perspective should take account of the needs of both men and women. Hoping that they benefit from the event, Judge Musallam urged participants to make an effective and efficient contribution to the training course.
 

Having welcomed participants, Dr. Ghassan Faramand, IoL Director, also emphasised importance of the training seminar, which would address all Palestinian citizens and articulate their real needs. Dr. Faramand quoted Munir Fasheh in Palestine the Authenticity and Palestine the Illusion:
People have come from everywhere to learn meanings of resistance and a different pattern of living, as well as to become acquainted with us as a source of knowledge and collective, creative work on several levels.
 

Dr. Faramand explained that the Palestinian judiciary was authentic, resembling indigenous seeds that have been generating by themselves for thousands of years. Likewise, authentic Palestine has engendered itself for thousands of years. On the other hand, illusory Palestine could not have lived for a single year if the source of its existence was disrupted.
 

Mr. Mu’in Al-Barghouthi, a Legal Researcher and the Project Manager at IoL, introduced the project, presenting its objectives, phases, target groups, and partners, including official bodies and civil society organisations. Mr. Al- Barghouthi made a briefing note about the training curriculum, which reflects the special attention to be paid in addressing gender-based issues in line with the nature of functions carried out by each target group. He also stated that the training seminar would focus on themes of interest to the Palestinian Judicial Authority. These included communication skills, conversation management, successful women-related cases, the role of forensic medicine in dealing with gender-based violence, and gender roles and concepts. These topics will be covered by relevant experts from Palestine and abroad.
 

It is worth noting that the training seminar will last for four days over a period of two weeks. To be held at the Bethlehem InterContinental Hotel, the event will bring together 18 judges of various courts from across the West Bank governorates.