Developing a Detainee Rights Guide

The Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC) created a guide to raise awareness about detainees’ rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). By engaging people who had experienced rights violations, TRC identified essential information the community needed to protect their rights. This development process included focus groups, fieldwork, and expert legal input.

Strengthening Fair Trial Procedures and Legal Awareness

Fair trial procedures in the OPT are often weak, particularly during arrest, detention, and investigation. To address this, TRC published a practical guide detailing detainees’ rights under both local and international human rights laws. They held focus groups with survivors and beneficiaries to structure the guide around real-life experiences. TRC then consulted a human rights law expert to ensure technical and legal accuracy, solidifying the guide’s foundation.

Community Collaboration and Distribution

After finalizing the guide, TRC worked with a review committee that included the partner NGO Hurryyat, lawyers, and human rights experts. TRC distributed the guide widely, targeting NGOs, libraries, youth centers, schools, universities, and law enforcement agencies. They partnered with civil society organizations and conducted awareness workshops to promote the guide, ultimately distributing around 5,000 copies.

About the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (TRC)

TRC is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to human rights in Palestine. They aim to increase awareness of victims’ experiences, reduce the impacts of torture through rehabilitation, build capacity in mental health and human rights, and advocate for anti-torture legislation. Through its comprehensive programs, TRC has become a leader in human rights advocacy across Palestine.