Workshop by Civil Society Organizations on
“The Status of Citizens’ Rights and Freedoms”


Translated from Maan News
Thursday, 17 April 2008
1:42 PM

Gaza. Maan. Civil society organizations that are partners with CARE, organized a workshop under the Tazeez Project. In attendance were: the Arab Center for Agricultural Development, Culture and Free Thought Society, Human Development Organization, Agricultural Development Society, Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Save the Children, Society Voice Foundation, and Women’s Affairs Technical Committee. The workshop topic was “the Status of Citizen Rights and Freedoms.” In attendance were experts, concerned persons, and invitees.

Participants said that the law should be enacted, to guarantee citizens’ rights at the political, economic, and social levels.

Yazdan Al-Amawi, Tazeez Project Manager, welcomed the participants, and said it is important to protect citizens’ rights and preserve public freedoms.

Dr. Nafeth Al-Madhoun presented a paper on the laws and legislations that are binding to the Palestinian Authority, and he added that the draft of the Palestinian Basic Law has been ready since 1998, but it was never implemented, and it remained a topic for discussion in meetings, workshops, and conferences. Al-Madhoun said that internal fragmentation among Palestinians has affected the law, and paralyzed the legal institutions. Al-Madhoun spoke about the Trade Union Law and Political Parties Law, as the national and democratic bases that were never implemented. Al-Madhoun said there are 24 clauses in Palestinian law that defend citizens’ rights and public freedom, and he said that the economy received tremendous attention in terms of legislation during the last 10 years, but implementation was impeded because of the occupation.

Muhsen Abu Ramadan spoke about the role of civil society organizations in preserving public freedom and protecting citizens’ rights. He said the two most important pillars in the Palestinian political system are the national platform and the democratic platform. He called for a political platform that promotes good citizenship, equal opportunity, and avoids factionalism that fragments the homeland. Abu Ramadan called for strengthening the role of civil society organization, to put pressure on decision makers so that civil society organizations can work freely away from political affiliation. Abu Ramadan called on decision makers not to close down institutions that have political affiliation, and he said that civic activism has the right to operate freely.

He said it is necessary to draft a political platform that fosters good citizenship, equal opportunity, and avoids political fragmentation that divides the homeland.

Ibrahim Khashan spoke about public freedoms and participation, to confront the occupation, end the siege, and to prevent the violation of public freedoms first and foremost by the Palestinian Authority and second by the occupation. Khashan spoke about Palestinian reality in general, and the suffering because of the occupation, deterioration in the safety conditions, and lawlessness, and he gave some concrete examples.

Talal Okal gave a paper on the role of the media in protecting public freedoms and defending citizens’ rights. He started by asking why human rights violations at all levels are not recorded, and the response was that confronting such problems is expensive not only financially, but also from a political, humanitarian, and social point of view.

Nadia Abu Nahleh gave a paper on the effects of political fragmentation on women’s rights. She said that Palestinian women are facing challenges because of Israeli actions, while at the same time while women are living in a paternal and patriarchal society, in addition to the norms, traditions, and lack of equal opportunity compared to men in Palestinian society, yet the biggest challenge is the political fragmentation that has adversely affected women’s rights and freedom.

Abu Nahleh said that the health, education, social, and political status of Palestinian women is deteriorating, due to the political fragmentation that has paralyzed the democratic process, affected women’s participation in local councils, and has marginalized women because of their political affiliation.

Abu Nahleh said that women’s safety net has been inflicted, because many women fell victims in the confrontation with the Israeli occupation. Abu Nahleh said that women must be protected from violence caused by the family, politics, and social considerations. Abu Nahleh said the political and economic conditions have led to increased levels of violence against women.

Abu Nahleh said there must be a set of laws that stipulate equal rights between men and women, guarantees women participation in political initiatives that lead to a democratic debate, puts and end to fragmentation, and fosters good citizenship.