Al Mezan Delivers Specialized Training Course for Gaza Lawyers on IHL, Enforcement and Litigation for Lawyers in Gaza

On Sunday 19 September 2010, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights launched a training course on 'International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Enforcement, and Litigation'.
The training targets 20 lawyers in Gaza and is organized in coordination with the Palestinian Bar Association in Gaza.
The course is held at Al Mezan's main office Gaza City.
About 21 practicing lawyers and trainee lawyers attended the course.
The training is part of a series of IHL education activities by Al Mezan under a project supported by Diakonia.
Mr.
Issam Younis, Al Meza's director, and Mr.
Mahmoud Abu Rahma, Coordinator of the Communications and International Relations at Al Mezan, opened the course and welcomed the participants.
  Mr.
Younis addressed the participants stressing the importance of IHL in the Palestinian context and the role lawyers can play in ensuring its respect in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in general.
He said that “the current situation in the Gaza Strip; especially since the Israeli implementation of the so-called Unilateral Disengagement Plan in September 2005, requires more focus on IHL.
It is vital to seek further protection for civilians and accountability for IHL violators”.
He added that “the lack of accountability has proven to be lethal for civilians who live under an illegal occupation, as it only encouraged the perpetration of grave violations of IHL, which is translated into vast loss of civilian life and property”.
Mr.
Younis also said that “Israel’s designation of Gaza as a ‘hostile entity’ and the subsequent imposition of a full blockade on Gaza violated IHL and must be challenged through ensuring the rule of law also internationally”, adding that “lawyer can play a vital role towards this end”.
  Mr.
Abu Rahma said that ‘while international community at large accepts the applicability of the major IHL treaties in oPt, Israel has persisted its rejection of such applicability; therefore undermining the protection accorded to civilians living under occupation’.
He emphasized that “the arguments around this principal issue are important and lawyers living under occupation on a daily basis must be part of them”.
He also added that “under a situation of ‘prolonged occupation’, the interrelationships between international human rights law and IHL become clearer and must be utilized to pursue better levels of protection”.
  Advocate Fatma Al Sharif presented the aims of the course; which is concerned with enhancing lawyers’ skills and knowledge in the IHL and its enforcement; including through litigation, in the oPt.
she explained that “it was very important for lawyers to understand the ethical and historical evolution of IHL, its basic principles and its means of enforcement”.
  The course consists of 28 training hours, to be delivered over the period of five days.
  Ends