Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and Institute of Law Launch a Training Course on Compiling Investigative Press Reports on Justice-related Issues
On Tuesday, 16 December 2008, the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit University and the Training Unit at the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) inaugurated a training course on Compiling Investigative Press Reports on Judicial-related Issues. Targeting junior journalists, the training course will introduce components of the justice sector in Palestine. The training course will be delivered by specialists and experts on the fields of the judiciary and the media. To facilitate media representatives' tasks in covering judicial-related events, the training course will highlight the role of various justice institutions.
On behalf of IoL, Mrs. Lina at Tunisi, IoL Gaza Office Coordinator, inaugurated the training course this morning. In her opening remarks, Mrs. At Tunisi asserted that this training activity is the first of its kind in the Gaza Strip. Emphasising the importance of IoL's joint endeavour with PCHR, the training event is part of activities carried out by the Initiative on Judicial Independence and Human Dignity (KARAMAH). Benefiting from financial support provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), KARAMAH is a project implemented by IoL in partnership with the Faculty of Law at Windsor University in Canada. In this context, the present training event is the first of a series of activities launched by KARAMAH for consolidation of human dignity and judicial independence principles in the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Bassam al Aqra', Director of PCHR Training Unit, explained that the training course will contribute to creating a generation of specialised Palestinian journalists, who will possess the necessary background to cover news of the judiciary, just like political and economic issues. Mr. Al Aqra' also stated that the training content will address themes with clear objectives. These will include the concept and applications of human dignity; introduction to law; role of media agencies in establishing the rule of law; promotion of the status of justice and human dignity; the Police's role in preliminary investigation; functions of the Public Prosecution; formations and jurisdictions of courts; correction and rehabilitation centres; the legal profession; proceedings of actions at law; criminal laboratories; forensic medicine facilities; and the Law of Printed Materials and Publications. In addition to field visits to human rights organisations in the Gaza Strip, the training course will present a number of examples on successful investigative press reports.
A team of distinctive trainers will deliver the training. In training sessions, trainers will employ a variety of training methods that enrich the training content, promote an effective participation, and generate a fruitful discussion. Trainers are Dr. Bassam Abu Hashish, lecturer at the Al Aqsa University; Dr. Tareq Abdul Shafi; Judge Abdul Qader Jaradeh; Advocate Jamil Sarhan, Director of the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) office in Gaza; Advocate Salameh Bseiso, Deputy President of the Palestinian Bar Association; Mr. Hamdi Shaqqourah, Director of PCHR Democracy Development Unit; as well as journalists Dunia al Amal Isami'l and Asma' al Ghoul.
The training course will be held at the IoL Office in the Gaza city over the period 16 – 18 December 2008. Distributed over 18 training hours, 22 journalists will take part in the training course. Coming from all Gaza governorates, participants work at various media agencies.
