Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)
PALESTINIAN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (PCHR)
Independent Palestinian nongovernmental human rights organization founded in 1995 by Raji Sourani, a prominent human rights lawyer and activist. Its goals include "protection and respect of human rights and support of the rule of law according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the other human rights agreements; assisting in the development of democratic institutions and civil society according to international standards; supporting the rights of Palestinian people as recognized by international law." In addition to providing legal aid to victims, PCHR documents human rights violations (by Israeli or Palestinian authorities) and releases its findings in published reports and studies. The organization also works with other rights organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), organizes conferences, and conducts training workshops. PCHR is based in Gaza City and most of its activity is conducted in the Gaza Strip. It holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is an affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, the Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH), and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. PCHR maintains a web site at www.pchrgaza.org.
SEE ALSO Gaza (City);Sourani, Raji.