The BZU Center for Development Studies (CDS) in Gaza in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Alumni Association held a workshop on “Development and Social Justice” on 21 November  2011.

The workshop was moderated by Rami Murad, a researcher at CDS. In his word of welcome, while CDS Coordinator, Ghassan Abu Hatab, stressed the importance of strengthening partnership with civil society and local organizations, particularly through sponsoring such events. Khalid Hasnain, Head of the JICA Alumni Association in Palestine, noted that this workshop is part of the Association’s activities that support coordination and networking with local institutions.

In his intervention Tayseer Muheisen, researcher on development issues, addressed development and social justice, highlighting that recent years have witnessed extensive and in-depth discussions on the relationship between development and culture, religion, human rights and social justice. He also stressed that such discussions are pertinent to finding alternatives for development that serve those most marginalized and impoverished in a world that is governed by oppression and exploitation.