Al Mezan Center for Human Rights

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights or Al Mezan (ميزان) is a non-governmental organization based in the Jabalia Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Its declared goals are: To promote and protect human rights in the OPT and especially in the Gaza Strip with a focus on economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR); to work towards the realization of Palestinians’ individual and collective human rights, including the right to self-determination through the channels of international law; to enhance democracy and citizen participation in the OPT and press towards good governance that respects human rights.^[1] The organization has a special consultative status in the United Nations.^[2]

Name

Mezan (ميزان) is Arabic for balance or scales, as well as justice and equity.

Activities

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights states it is dedicated to securing a permanent foundation for the protection of human rights in the Gaza Strip. Although it claims its long term aim 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 what it alleges are accelerating violations of basic civil rights and human rights, primarily by the Israeli Defense Forces.

In the role of human rights monitor, the Al Mezan Center documents alleged 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.

Funding

The organization's core donors are:

• Netherlands Representative Office
• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• Kerkinactie/ Global Ministries
• International Commission of Jurists- Sweden

Individual project donors are:

• Mertz Gilmore Foundation
• The French Consulate (funded the library in 2002-2003)
• The Ford Foundation

Affiliations

The organization is a member of the following 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

References

External links

• Al Mezan Center for Human Rights