Workshop on: "The role of the educational system in strenghtining human rights culture in the society: working against violence and torture as an example"

Nablus - May 9^th 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.