On Monday 1 March 2010, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, working jointly with  the Palestinian Pharmacists Associations, concluded a specialized  training course for pharmacists on 'Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law'.
Mr.
Samir Zaquot, the Coordinator of the Field Work Unit at Al Mezan, the head of the Palestinian Pharmacists Association Dr.
Mahmoud Al Wali; and Mrs.
Shirin Shobaki, the Coordinator of the Training and Mass Communication Unit at Al Mezan  led the graduation ceremony and handed the participants their certificates at  the Palestinian Pharmacists Association Office in Gaza.
Twenty-three pharmacists participated in the course.
Al Shobaki thanked the participants and emphasized the importance of this specialized training course.
  The course aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of the participants in human rights and international humanitarian law.
Mr.
Samir Zaquot asserted the importance of enhancing the knowledge and culture of human rights and international law.
He also emphasized the importance of the course which enables the medical personnel to take an effective part in documenting war crimes.
He also congratulated the participants for concluding the course.
For its side, Dr.
Mahmoud Al Wali thanked Al Mezan for its cooperation with  the Palestinian Pharmacists Association to develop and build the capacity of pharmacists.
He also said this is the first training course for pharmacists about human rights.
The course was an opportunity to enhance and increase the awareness of pharmacists in human rights.
He hoped that the cooperation between the Palestinian Pharmacists Association and Al Mezan would continue in the future.
  The course consisted of 18 hours delivered over three days.
The course  introduced participants to: the historical and legal framework of IHL and international human rights law (IHRL); the content of IHL and IHRL; the international Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; national and international protection mechanisms; monitoring and documentation mechanisms; the right to health and protecting the medical personnel under the IHL.
A team of trainers and experts from Al Mezan Centre delivered the training.
At the end of the course, Mr.
Zaquot and Mrs.
Shobaki emphasized the importance of cooperation between the human rights organizations and the Palestinian Pharmacists Association to support the skills of Palestinian medical personnel and to enable them to take an effective part in defending human rights; especially Gazan lives under very deteriorated human rights conditions due to the conflict and the siege Israel imposes on it.
Ends