Institute of Law Delegation Visits Family Courts in Hebron

As part of the activities of the Family Law Court Judgments
Database, a project implemented by the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit
University in cooperation with the High Council of Family Courts, a delegation from
the IoL visited the family courts in the Hebron governorate on 16 July 2012. The
delegation included BZU staff members Jamil Salem, Reem Al -Botmeh, Ahmed
Hammou, and Abeer Dirbas.

Sheikh Ribhi al Qasrawi al Tamimi, High Family Court Justice
and Chairman of the Technical Office at the High Council of Family Courts, accompanied
the delegation. The group viewed and examined historic documents, which date
back to the beginning of Ottoman rule over Palestine. As these documents
constitute part of Palestine’s historic and legal heritage, the IoL plans to
electronically archive them with a view to protect them against damage and
loss.

In addition to inspecting historic documents and manuscripts,
the delegation collected a large number of decisions entered by the Hebron
Family Court in Bab Al- Zawiya area, Western Hebron Family Court, Dura Family
Court and Halhul Family Court.

Currently, the IoL is in the process of building a database
to collect various decisions issued by family courts. The process of developing
the mentioned database draws on the IoL’s experience of constructing the
Regular Court Judgments Database. So far, a total of 9,000 family court judgments
have been entered into the Family Law Court Judgments Database. Links between
this database and the Palestinian Legal and Judicial System (AL-MUQTAFI) are
now in place. Relations between court judgments are linked to previous or
subsequent court decisions as well as with legislations
referred to in the body of court judgments. While they view court judgments,
users can at the same time access all databases on AL-MUQTAFI.