Institute of Law celebrates Parliamentary Affairs graduates

The Institute of Law at Birzeit University organized a graduation ceremony for participants who successfully completed the Parliamentary Affairs Training Program on January 4, 2018. The program, implemented in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, was held for a three-month period between November 2017 and January 2018.

The 90-hour program was comprised of five specialized courses, which were: “The Role of Committees in Parliamentary Work,” “Parliamentary Reports and Their Mechanisms,” “Parliament Budget Drafting,” “Community and Parliament Oversight,” and “Harmonization of Legislation and International Treaties.”

Eighteen trainees from the legal departments of various official organizations, such as the Legislative Council, the High Judicial Council, the Public Prosecution, the Palestinian Cabinet, the Advisory and Legislation Bureau, the Ministry of the Interior, the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Palestinian Land Authority, participated in the program.

Director of the Institute of Law Dr. Mueen Barghouthi noted the efforts of its national partner institutions which made the training program a success. He said, “This could not have been done without the help and cooperation of our partners, especially the Palestinian Legislative Council. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this program, including members of the Institute of Law, the team of trainers and trainees, and the sponsoring institutes and organizations.”

“This program,” added Dr. Barghouthi, “is the first step toward creating a professional associate degree in parliamentary affairs. Our aim is to build capacities in the standards and practices of parliamentary work in Palestine.”

“The program was implemented over a period of two months with the participation of the best national trainers,” said Alaa Hamad, head of the Legislative Support Unit at the Institute of Law. “The program was noted for its interactive and collaborative nature, as it facilitated the exchange of skills and expertise between the various legal institutions of the country.”

Saja Al Terawi, a participant in the program, expressed gratitude to the Institute and the trainers, lecturers, and coordinators for their efforts in a speech she delivered on behalf of all graduates, who were awarded official certificates at the end of the ceremony.