Conflict Resolution Center celebrates the graduation of a course to develop the staff of the family counselling departments at the sharia courts

Gaza, Publication and Information Unit:

The Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution, in coordination with the Supreme Council of the Sharia Judiciary, celebrated the graduation of a training course to develop the capacities of the staff working in the family counselling department at the sharia courts, on 30/11/2011 at the Centre's main premises in Gaza City.

Taking part in the celebration were Sheikh Dr. Hassan Al-Joujou, head of the Supreme Council of the Sharia Judiciary, the director general of the Conflict Resolution Center, Saeed Al-Muqadama, Iyad Abu Hjair, director of the Centre's Gaza branch, Abdel Moneim Al-Tahrawi, coordinator of the project for providing legal assistance to women in need at the Centre, and Dr. Abdel Khaleq Al-Buhaisi, director of the family counselling department at the sharia courts, in the presence of the participants in the training course.

For his part, Dr. Al-Joujou valued the efforts made to develop the staff working at the sharia courts, foremost among them those working in the family counselling departments, given their importance in supporting the local community. He added: "We have the human element and we must develop it and raise its level to ensure continuity in giving and in supporting the groups of Palestinian society."

For his part, Al-Muqadama stressed the openness and the role played by the Supreme Judiciary as a governmental institution and considered it a positive model in engaging with civil society organisations and in its concern with increasing coordination between the government and organisations to develop the services provided to citizens. He called for achieving community reconciliation in the country in parallel with national reconciliation, represented by supporting the efforts aimed at making national unity succeed in Palestine.

At the end of the celebration, the Conflict Resolution Center presented a shield and a certificate of appreciation to the head of the Supreme Council of the Sharia Judiciary and distributed certificates of appreciation to the trainers and course certificates to the participants, who numbered 25 male and female family counsellors.

It is noted that the Conflict Resolution Center agreed with the Supreme Judicial Council to sign a memorandum of understanding to identify the needs that must be met in order to develop the staff working at the sharia courts in the coming period.