Ramallah: the Human Rights and Democracy Media Center “SHAMS” celebrated the signing and launching of the Code of Honor on Respect for the Right to Peaceful Assembly, in collaboration with the German Representative Office to Palestine. With the participation of Christian Clages Head of the Representative Office of the Federal Republic of Germany to Palestine, Dr. Laila Ghannam Governor of Ramallah & Al Bireh Governorate, Asaad Yonus Adviser of the Minister of Justice, Brigadier-General Jihad Al-Msaimi Deputy Director of the Palestinian Police, Dr. Ammar Dweik Director of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, Shawan Jabareen representative of the Council of Human Rights Organizations, Lawyer Daoud Al-Darawi Chairman of the Legal Committee and member of the Bar Association, and Shatha Odeh Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network. In the presence of members of the Executive Committee of the PLO including Mr. Azzam Al-Ahmad, Dr. Faisal Aranki, Mr. Saleh Raafat, representatives of civil society organizations and ministries, heads of missions and representative offices, lawyers, journalists, researchers, academics and security Services.
In her Turn, Amal Al-Faqih representative of “SHAMS” Center welcomed the attendees explaining that this celebration stems from the center’s work philosophy in which the protection for human rights is a central pillar, adding that the development, drafting and launch of the Code of Honor aimed at to shed the light on this right and the importance of its respect, promotion, and maintenance.
On her part, Dr. Laila Ghannam Governor of Ramallah & Al Bireh Governorate emphasized that the governorate is keen on ensuring freedom of peaceful assembly for citizens, and upholding freedoms in accordance with the law.
On his part, Christian Clages Head of the Representative Office of the Federal Republic of Germany to Palestine underlined the importance of the right to peaceful assembly as one of the other rights to ensure the freedoms of opinion and expression, which indicates that society is pluralistic and respects other rights, freedoms, and democratic values.
For his part, Brigadier-General Jihad Al-Msaimi Deputy Director of the Palestinian Police indicated that the basic task of the police is to create a state of security, tranquility, and stability, in addition, to strive to maintain any gathering to express an opinion.
Moreover, Asaad Yonus Adviser of the Minister of Justice stated that Palestine has acceded to all human rights conventions in all its forms and has become a state party to more than 100 international treaties and protocols, and has submitted its reports to bodies emanating from international treaties and conventions, and the Palestinian Basic Law has affirmed the protection of the right to peaceful assembly.
Dr. Ammar Dweik Director of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, stated that we as Palestinians, have real experience and knowledge on peaceful assembly, which represents one of the peaceful nonviolent tools of struggle that the Palestinian people has been using throughout their national struggle in the face of occupation and colonialism and paid a great price due to using this right. At the Palestinian domestic level, he indicated that we follow the Public Gathering Act Of 1998, passed by the Elected Legislative Council, where it gave Palestinians the right to peaceful assembly.
In the same connection, Lawyer Daoud al-Darawi Chairman of the Legal Committee and member of the Bar Association stressed that the right to peaceful assembly is among the fundamental rights associated with the right to political participation and freedom of opinion & expression.
Additionally, Shatha Odeh Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network considers the right to freedom of peaceful assembly a cornerstone of the freedom of opinion and expression which is a part of human rights. At the same time, it represents a standard indicator of peoples’ enjoyment of their human rights alongside other rights & freedoms such as the right to belief, though, the right to vote, the right to strike and protest, and the right to form associations, unions, parties, and others.
Shawan Jabareen, representative of the Council of Human Rights Organizations emphasized that the promotion of freedom of the right to peaceful assembly is an indication of the strength of society, and he said we have a modern and good law in public gatherings. He added that the main problem is not in the law but in compliance and application.
In the end of the ceremony, the Code of Honor on Respect for the Right to Peaceful Assembly was launched and initialed by members of the Executive Committee of the PLO including Mr. Azzam Al-Ahmad, Dr. Faisal Aranki, and Mr. Saleh Raafat, Dr. Laila Ghannam Governor of Ramallah & Al Bireh Governorate, Asaad Yonus Adviser of the Minister of Justice, Brigadier-General Jihad Al-Msaimi Deputy Director of the Palestinian Police, Lawyer Daoud Al-Darawi Chairman of the Legal Committee and member of the Bar Association, and Shatha Odeh Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network. Besides, Intisar Hamdan representative of AMAN Coalition, Mousa Al-Rimawi representative of MADA Center, Dr. Azmi Al-Shuaibi, Dr. Ammar Dweik Director of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, and Shawan Jabareen representative of the Council of Human Rights Organizations