The first day featured a series of academic and awareness-raising sessions aimed at strengthening young people’s understanding of the international human rights system and relevant United Nations mechanisms. The first session was delivered by Ms Rafif Mujahid from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and addressed the United Nations human rights treaties and the obligations arising for Palestine under them.

The second session examined the mechanisms for submitting periodic reports and shadow reports to the human rights treaty bodies. The third session, delivered by Ms Zainab Ramlawi from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, explored the role of young people in engaging with United Nations mechanisms and international advocacy tools, including individual communications and urgent appeals submitted to Special Rapporteurs.

The first day concluded with practical group work focused on drafting messages and urgent appeals concerning specific human rights situations in Palestine, in addition to a training session on Model United Nations (MUN), which prepared participants to move to the practical component of the program.

On the second day, participating students from the Faculty of Law and Political Science at An-Najah National University took part in a comprehensive practical simulation of the work of the United Nations General Assembly. The day began with opening remarks, including an address by Mr Neil Tobin, Deputy Head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He emphasized the importance of this partnership in enabling students and young people to engage practically with human rights and the United Nations system. He also highlighted the efforts of the teams from the Institute and the Office of the High Commissioner in implementing the activity.

The students subsequently presented the official position papers of the countries represented in the simulation. The exercise also included intensive negotiation and consultation sessions among the delegations to build alliances, draft United Nations resolutions, and introduce amendments based on the delegations’ observations and positions. It concluded with a final vote on the draft resolutions, the announcement of the results, and the recognition of outstanding delegations and participants.

This program reflects the shared vision of the partner institutions to empower Palestinian youth and equip them with the legal and diplomatic knowledge and skills required for effective participation in human rights mechanisms and international multilateral processes. It also forms part of a series of activities implemented by the Institute to provide students with practical experience, strengthen their knowledge of international law, human rights, and relevant United Nations mechanisms, and connect legal education with practical application and international practice. The program was implemented within the framework of institute’s establishment project funded by the European Union