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The EU and the Palestinian Bar Association announce the launching of a new project

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Ramallah – The Acting EU Representative, John Gatt-Rutter, and the Chairman of the Palestinian Bar Association, Nabil Mushahwar, launched today a 1.4 million Euro grant to support the Palestinian Bar Association. The proposed action shall serve the overall objective of enhancing the competency, capability, proficiency effectiveness and professionalism of Palestinian lawyers through institutional strengthening of the Palestinian Bar Association in order to deliver systematic, cost-effective, efficient and planned services to its members and community. The launching event brought together representatives of Palestinian government bodies, legal institutions, and international organisations that implement joint activities with the PBA.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the PBA, Nabil Mushahwar, stressed the importance of the European Union's support to the rule of law sector in the Palestinian territories and highly appreciated the role the EU plays to support PBA’s operation and activities. Mr. Mushahwar added "The EU grant will help the PBA promote lawyers’ capacities and establish the principle of the rule of law within the Palestinian society."

From his side, the Acting EU Representative, John Gatt-Rutter, emphasized the importance the EU relation with Palestinian Bar Association. Gatt-Ruuter added: "in various forms, the EU has been one of the key actors supporting the institutional development of the Bar Association and the running of trainings. We are confident that this new support to the activities of the Bar Association will provide an added value to all the work being done to date and in that respect, the role of the SEYADA II project has been crucial."

Alfons B. Lentze, Director of the EU-funded project (SEYADA-II), made a brief presentation of the project's activities explaining the main objectives of this action.

The EU two-year, Euro 1.4 million grant to the PBA is part of an ongoing cooperation with the PBA. The financial grant is set to support the PBA’s capacities and upgrade the legal profession in three major components: Component (1) is designed to develop professional capacities of trainee and practicing lawyers by preparing training schemes to be operated by the PBA. These include training on relevant practical subjects to improve skills and knowledge of law graduates in their two years training program managed and implemented by the PBA as well as examination rules, and monitoring and evaluation systems. Continuing education programmes will also be offered to practicing lawyers in new, significant themes in the legal profession. Component (2) supports launching a public sensitisation campaign on the PBA activities and citizens’ rights. In this context, a technical office will be established to supervise PBA publications (a periodical magazine and monthly newsletter). Component (3) provides support to create an IT (automated) system to further promote effective and efficient PBA functions and to develop the PBA website.

For further information:

Seyada project
Mr. Alfons Lentze, Team Leader & Mr. Feras Milhem, Deputy Team Leader
Tel.: 02 297 6305, Email: info@epj.ps

Palestinian Bar Association
Al Ersal Street, Ramallah, Palestine
Telephone: 02 2982010, Email: info@palestinebar.ps