On Thursday 29 September 2011, the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights concluded a training course on “International Humanitarian Law, Litigation, and Prosecuting War Crimes,” held at the Orient House hotel in Gaza City.
Mr.
Samir Zaqout, coordinator of the Field Work Unit at Al Mezan, and Mrs.
Shirin Ash-Shobaki, coordinator of the Training and Mass Communication Unit, wrapped up the training course by thanking the 23 participating lawyers, both practicing and in training, for their commitment to the course.
Mr.
Zaqout discussed the importance of understanding international humanitarian law (IHL) in the context of armed conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), especially following the recent war against the Gaza Strip (Operation Cast Lead), with its grave violations of IHL and crimes committed against civilians and their properties.
In order to confront the current situation and reach the truth, it is therefore important to build lawyers’ capacity in IHL mechanisms for professional documentation, compilation of files for use before authorized bodies, and facilitation of the work of international organizations and their missions.
Mr.
Zaqout highlighted the importance of the dual relationship between human rights and IHL for protecting civilians in the oPt, particularly in connection with Israel’s obligations as a party to human rights conventions and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
  These obligations were affirmed in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the illegal separation wall in the West Bank.
In addition, Mr.
Zaqout pointed to the special role of lawyers in defending victims of human rights violations, including internal violations, and their role in the achievement of justice as a value, regardless of the personal interests of the lawyer.
Mr.
Zaqout noted the importance of the cooperation and coordination between Al Mezan and the trainers and expressed his hope that the course would be the beginning of a fruitful relationship.
Mrs.
Ash-Shobaki thanked the participants for their attendance and commitment to the course.
She emphasized to the participants the importance of using their newly acquired knowledge in their work to support the Palestinian cause.
The training course consisted of 24 training hours delivered over four days.
  Participants were introduced to: the historical and legal framework of IHL and international human rights law (IHRL); the content of IHL and IHRL; protected groups under international law; the application of international law; enforcement mechanisms; the responsibility of an occupying power towards the population of an occupied territory; and the legal status of the oPt.
In particular, the course aimed to develop the skills and the knowledge of the participating lawyers with respect to IHL, with the overall purpose of achieving justice.
The course introduced the participants to international criminal law and mechanisms for prosecuting war crimes, in addition to monitoring and documentation mechanisms—an area of increasing importance to legal and human rights professionals in the context of the crimes being perpetrated in the oPt.
This course constitutes one component of the “Promotion of IHL and ESCR [economic, social and cultural rights] by Education” project, implemented by Al Mezan in a cooperative framework with Diakonia.
This project aims to raise awareness of IHL among the Palestinian community in Gaza in general, and to enable lawyers in particular to make use of IHL in their legal and judicial work.
  End