In Palestine, as in Europe, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) play a crucial role in promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies, including in conflict situations.

EUPOL COPPS’ Senior Accountability Advisor, Daniel Hoofdman, from The Netherlands, and Areen Dweekat, Human Rights and Gender Officer are working on strengthening the Mission’s cooperation with Palestinian CSOs to gain a comprehensive insight on accountability and human rights, essential for its mentoring role with the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP). This way is advice can include needs-based solutions to accountability challenges.

To the purpose, a new phase for EUPOL COPPS and Palestinian NGOs, formalising a structured interaction with working groups meeting every two months, kicked off on 15 October in Ramallah.

Several Palestinian CSOs, including, Al-Haq, Hurryat – The Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights, ICHR – The Independent Commission for Human Rights, JLAC – Jerusalem legal Aid and Human Rights Center, MUSAWA – The Palestinian Center for the Independance of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession, SHAMS – Human Rights and Democracy Media Center, WCLAC – Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling joined the meeting opened by EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission, Karin Limdal, who clarified: “Because as EUPOL COPPS we don’t have mandate to monitor Human Rights, listening to your advice has a say on our strategic advice”.

Impacting on the handling of citizens or possible inadequate addressing of citizen’s request by the police, which can also negatively impact public trust in this institution, is among the goals.

The penitentiary situation in Palestine and way forward was discussed at the meeting,  with input from the Mission’s Penitentiary Advisor on the treatments of inmates in detention centres, with the clarification to the CSOs interlocutors that the ownership of how security and justice sector institutions for a future Palestinian state work, focusing on reforms, remains with the Palestinian Authority.

Examples of model rehabilitation centres such as the Jericho or the newly opened Barghasha Correction and Rehabilitation Centre in Jenin were discussed as way forward. Detention centers’ overcrowding and the need to limit the permanence in holding cells while awaiting trials were also discussed.

“Your advising role to us is very important, as Human Rights and Gender are cross cutting themes in all our activities and are being mainstreamed in our everyday work” stressed the Mission’s Accountability Advisor.