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Nablus - May 9th 2018, Treatment and rehabilitation center for
victims of torture organized a workshop in Nablus on “The role of the
educational system in strengthening human rights culture in the society:
specially against violence and torture”.
The workshop included 4 speeches addressed by 4
different organizations and attended by 36 CSO representatives and school
social workers and psychologists, the workshop included:
First, Monica Girao, a human
rights expert from Rescate, in which she presented recommendations on how to
use the education system as a tool to share the human rights culture in the
society, including several experiences and examples from other States. The
presentation included also the importance of raising the principles of peace,
tolerance and justice in creating a peaceful environment that is compatible
with the HR principles and works against violence and torture.
Second, Azmi Balawni, the head
of the office of the ministry of education in Nablus, he addressed the
procedures taken by the ministry of education since 2014 in order to raise the
human rights related content and topic in the educational system in Palestine.
He also called upon all the schools principles, teachers and parents to stand
up for their shared responsibility on creating a peaceful environment for the
children, which over all would lead to a society that respects and works in
accordance to the human rights rules and aspects.
Third, Tamam Hannon from Yafa
Cultural Center in Nablus addressed some of the co-curricular activities
conducted by Yafa Center, and how effective these activities are creating a
creative and smart generation that appreciate team work in all aspects, which
overall helps in creating a new generation that believes in equality, equity
and works against discrimination and violence.
Fourth, Amjad Abu Lafi, the
advocacy coordinator at TRC addressed the biggest legislative obstacles that
faces the children justice including several applicable legislations in
Palestine that are incompatible with the articles of UNCAT.
At the end of the speeches, the participants had the chance to ask
questions and make comments, and at the end several recommendations were
addressed including the importance of having more psychologists and social
workers in Nablus schools, the importance of having a ascending progressive
plan on strengthening human rights content in the education system, the
importance of solving the issue of its roots and to stop all the reasons a bad
behaviors including the TV shows that includes violence content in order to
make sure the problem won’t get bigger nor continue increasing, the importance
of the conducting workshops and lectures for care giver including teachers,
psychologists, social workers and parents on how to treat and raise their kids.
This event was organized by TRC in cooperation with RESCATE and
funded by the European Union under projects “Strengthening Support of UNCAT and
OPCAT & OPCAT in Palestinian Authority Legislation to Stimulate a Human
Rights-Oriented Palestinian Society”, and reflects the shared interest of both
the EU and TRC in creating an effective education system in Palestine, that
would help in building the democratic society that respect human rights.