A national meeting via video-conference was held between the Gaza Strip and West bank on 14 September 2009 to launch the national Campaign to Defend Public Freedoms and Human Rights and to Promote the Restoration of National Unity in Palestine. Over 150 r more
On October 2nd, 2009, the Palestinian Authority withdrew of its draft resolution supporting the recommendations contained in the Goldstone Report, resulting in a deferral of a vote to endorse the report in the Human Rights Council to March 2010. The repor more
The university of Trondheim in Norway may become the first university in the West to adopt an academic boycott of Israel, if a majority of its board votes in favor of the move at a meeting on the subject next month. more
In November 2009, the jury of the French National Consultant Committee for Human Rights in France selected the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) as one of the five winners more
( statement by the Palestinian NGO'S Network - PNGO ) Yesterday morning, May 6, 2010 at 6 am the Israeli General Security Service and Israeli police raided Ameer Makhoul's home in Haifa and arrested him. Makhoul, serves as General Director of Ittijah more
On Tuesday May 11, the Consul General of France in Jerusalem, Frédéric esagneaux, handed over a more
The Free Gaza flotilla, carrying around 700 pro-Palestinian activists from various countries, as well as approximately 10,000 tones of humanitarian aid, was headed for Gaza on Monday May 31st, 2010. While still travelling on international waters, 65 km of more
The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Resource Group
Since 2003, non-governmental organizations in Palestine (both members of the Palestinian Network of Non-governmental Organizations (PNGO) and others) have been working with Responding to Conflict (RTC). This work is in order to build capacity in the field of Conflict Transformation in local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The group consists of 25 senior members of staff from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Vision
A free and democratic Palestinian society, adopting values and principles of conflict transformation to live in a just and sustainable peace.
Mission
To build and empower the resource group, to create a specialized network in the field of conflict transformation and just peace building and integrating these concepts into the policies and plans of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), institutions, organizations and the broader Palestinian society.
Strategic focus
Achievements
Much has been achieved in Palestine over the last few months. Members of the Palestinian CTRG have been leading initiatives in mediation and dialogue between Hamas and Fatah leaders and their supporters in the West Bank and Gaza. This has resulted in the resolution of conflicts in the health sector, and a signed agreement amongst student factions at Gaza University and Birzeit University in the West Bank for dialogue and a wish to bring about an end to internal violence. Mediation has been facilitated for village councils in the West Bank to help them resolve conflicts between families over water. Sixty teachers have been trained in Gaza in conflict resolution, mediation and negotiation skills in order to integrate it into the curriculum and mediation forums have been established in schools in Gaza and Bethlehem to address violence in schools.
Palestinian NGOs have publicized the CTRG as a resource for civil society organizations to help them in conducting training in CT and resolve their internal conflicts.
Future plans:
Members of the CTRG decided to provide advanced training courses in Conflict Transformation to other organizations with the assistance of the RTC members and to organize workshops in Universities using training manuals In addition, CTRG members decided to extend their work to include new organizations locally and regionally specifically Lebanon and Iraq.