The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court in Palestine have met to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding signed between RWI and the Palestinian Judicial Institute.
Project Officer of the RWI MENA regional office, Eman Siam, met with both Ali Abu Diak, the Palestinian Minister of Justice, and Sami Sarsour, the President of the Supreme Court and the High Judicial Council. The focal point of their discussion was reinforcing cooperation in regard to the implementation of the MoU.
The Minister of Justice affirmed that the Judicial Institute will work in collaboration with RWI – within the scope of the MoU – in order to enhance human rights in criminal procedures through monitoring the courts and their compliance with fair trial standards.
The President of the High Judicial Council highlighted the Council’s focus on adhering to international conventions ratified by Palestine in view of the national will and directives of the Palestinian leadership, as well as the enactment of Chapter Two of Palestinian Basic Law (which covers a host of rights and public freedoms). He also confirmed the Council’s continual willingness to support the Palestinian Judicial Institute and its partners in the field.
RWI is working with the Palestinian Judicial Institute on the development of curricula by undertaking a comparative study on national laws and international human rights conventions. In addition to the publications “Arab Jurisprudence in the Application of International Human Rights treaties” (by Palestinian Judge, Ahmad Al Ashqar) and “Arab Jurisprudence in the Application of International Human Rights of Women” (by Prof. Samia Bourouba), a manual on the “Methodologies of Training on Jurisprudence Mechanisms” is being developed.
All sides agreed to proceed in their partnership with the Bar Association, Public Prosecution and civil society organizations.