The Palestinian Institute for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at An-Najah National University, organized a specialized training program entitled “Human Rights Defenders: The Legal and Practical Framework” on Monday and Tuesday, 11–12 August 2025. This training targeted a group of  students from the Faculty of Law and Political Science.

The training was delivered by the Institute’s visiting international expert, Kate Ní Chonaill, who, on the first day, presented key themes including the definition of a human rights defender according to the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the distinction between a defender and an activist, as well as a discussion of relevant legal precedents and the role of the UN Special Rapporteur in protecting human rights defenders. The sessions included lively discussions between the trainer and students, providing an opportunity to raise questions related to Palestinian and Arab experiences.

On the second day, in addition to the lead trainer, several international and local experts were hosted. Mr. Yamen Almadhoun, a human rights defender from Gaza and Head of Fieldwork at Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, spoke about his experience documenting violations by the occupation authorities against civilians as well as his participation in temporary protection programs. Ms. Eli Berghuis, Programme Officer for Shelter City at Justice and Peace Netherlands, gave a lecture on the importance of temporary relocation programs for human rights defenders, presenting findings from York University research on the subject. The day concluded with an intervention by Ms. Najla Samakiya from the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, who discussed the mandate and mechanisms of the Special Rapporteur with a focus on the Palestinian context.

The workshop concluded with a discussion session and the distribution of certificates to participants, who emphasized the importance of the training in strengthening their knowledge of human rights and international protection mechanisms for defenders.

This workshop comes as part of a series of activities carried out under the project of the establishment of the Palestinian Institute for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, funded by the European Union. The project seeks to enhance the capacities of Palestinian university students in legal and human rights fields, develop their theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to international law and human rights, and provide an educational and training environment that enables youth to actively engage in community issues and contribute to local and international efforts to promote the rule of law and protect human rights.