Al Mezan and the UN OHCHR Open Specialized Training Course on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Gaza

Today, Monday, 31 May 2010, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights in cooperation with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) opened a training course entitled "Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Documentation and Protection Mechanisms".
Mr.
Curt Goering, the director of OHCHR, Mr.
Saber An-Nairab, Human Rights Officer at OHCHR, Mr.
Samir Zaqout, Coordinator of the Field Work Unit at Al Mezan and Mrs.
Shirin Al Shobaki, Coordinator of the Training and Mass Communication Unit, also, at Al Mezan opened the course at the Commodore Hotel in Gaza City and welcomed the 25 participants who work in society based organizations in the Gaza Strip.
Mr.
Curt Goering talked about the importance of economic, social and cultural rights (ESC rights) which are often considered the second generation of human rights.
Governments should uphold including these rights, including the right to food and adequate housing.
Mr.
Goering thanked Al Mezan for its ongoing cooperation with OHCHR.
Mr.
Samir Zaqout asserted the importance of training as a starting point to encourage individual behavior that will contribute to enhancing human rights culture in the society.
He added that training on human rights is significant to build community capacity to protect these rights.
Mr.
Zaqout gave examples about how upholding human rights is important not only for our lives, but also for our struggle for freedom and dignity.
Mr.
Saber An-Nairab presented the objectives and curriculum of the course.
The course aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of the participants in ESC Rights and international humanitarian law (IHL), and monitoring and documentation mechanisms.
CBOs can play a very important role in promoting and protecting ESC rights.
The course aims to help them do so by building their capacity.
Mrs.
Shirin Al Shobaki welcomed the participants and talked about the importance exchanging experiences among more than 20 non-governmental organizations, acquiring new skills and experience in the human rights field.
The course consists of 24 hours to be delivered over four days.
The course is intended to introduce participants to: the historical and legal framework of IHL and international human rights law (IHRL); interrelations between IHL and ESC rights in the context of armed conflict, the content and principles of IHL and IHRL; the International Covenant on ESC Rights; national and international protection mechanisms; monitoring and documentation mechanisms; the right to an adequate standard of living including food and housing; and the right to housing, education, food and to live a decent life.
A team of Al Mezan and OHCHR trainers and experts will deliver the training.
This course is part of the ongoing activities by Al Mezan and OHCHR that aim to enhance the awareness and knowledge of civil society organization’s employees in human rights, and protection and monitoring mechanisms.
In the first session, Mrs.
Shobaki presented an introduction to human rights; the historical and legal framework of human rights and the International Bill of Human Rights.
In the second session, Mr.
Saber An-Nairab talked about the International Covenant on ESC Rights and mechanisms for implementation and international protection.
In the third secession, advocate Fatma Al Sharif gave an introduction to IHL and presented ESC Rights in IHL.