Within the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is a nongovernmental organization based in the Jabalia Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Al Mezan was chartered “to promote, protect and prevent violations of human rights in general and economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights in particular, to provide effective aid to those victims of such violations, and to enhance the quality of life of the community in marginalized sectors of the Gaza Strip" [1]. Mezan (ميزان) is Arabic for balance or scales, as well as justice and equity.
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is dedicated to securing a permanent foundation for the protection of human rights in the Gaza Strip. Although the long term aim of the Center is to foster development of full economic, social, and cultural rights, during the current heightened conflict between Israelis and Palestinians the Al Mezan Center has focused on accelerating violations of basic civil rights and human rights by both the Israeli Defense Forces and the Palestinian Authority.
In the role of human rights monitor, the Al Mezan Center documents human rights violations, such as disproportionate military attacks on civilian areas that result in widespread civilian casualties, the practice of imprisonment without trial, political assassination, and official policies condoning brutality and torture that undermine development of civil society. The Center also provides legal aid, advocacy, and capacity-building services and resources and conducts educational activities to raise awareness in the local community about basic human rights, democracy, and the importance of international humanitarian relief.
Core Donors
- Netherlands Representative Office
- Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
- Kerkinactie/ Global Ministries
- International Commission of Jurists- Sweden
Project Donors
- Mertz Gilmore Foundation
- The French Consulate (funded the library in 2002-2003)
- The Ford Foundation
Networks and Committees
- Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Network (ESCR Network)
- Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)
- Coalition for Accountability and Integrity
- Middle East and North Africa Network to Stop the Use of Children as soldiers
- Habitat International Coalition - Housing and Land Rights Network
- MENA Network to Stop the Proliferation and Misuse of Small Arms & Light Weapons
The center claims to be non-partisan.
Public perception
Israeli opinions
Israeli opinions of Al Mezan range from very positive to very negative. On one side of the spectrum, NGO Monitor, published by former Israeli Ambassador Dore Gold, asserts that Al Mezan "promot[es] claims of 'Israeli war crimes'; inflammatory pictures and accusatory statements and reports", and that it is "particularly active in pursuing a virulently anti-Israel political agenda, while entirely ignoring Palestinian terrorism." [2] [3] For a rather different perspective, an Israeli NGO, the human rights organisation B'Tselem, asserts that the Al Mezan Center "attempts to address the needs of the marginalized population, suffering most profoundly from a lack of basic human rights, on a grassroots level. The Center aims to encourage the protection, promotion and respect of human rights in the Occupied Territories, especially economic, cultural and social rights, through a wide range of activities."[4]
Palestinian opinions
International opinions
See Also
References
Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13
