ICSPR Conducts Legal Awareness Workshop for Women on Alternative Justice in Al-Wafaa Camp, Gaza City
Date: 15 September 2026
Press Release
ICSPR Conducts Legal Awareness Workshop for Women on Alternative Justice in Al-Wafaa Camp, Gaza City
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR), through the “Strengthening Alternative Justice in the Gaza Strip” Initiative, conducted a legal awareness workshop for 25 women at Al-Wafaa Camp in the Al-Saraya area of Gaza City. The workshop was held on Saturday, 5 September 2026, and aimed to strengthen awareness of alternative justice concepts and peaceful mechanisms for resolving disputes amid the difficult humanitarian and social conditions in the Gaza Strip.
The workshop was delivered by lawyer Samah Shuheiber, in the presence of Ms Rida Al-Muzaini, the Initiative Coordinator, and Ms Iman Jundia, a member of the Initiative. It addressed the importance of providing practical and safe pathways for dispute resolution, contributing to the protection of rights, the prevention of escalating conflicts, and the strengthening of civil peace and social cohesion in displacement and shelter settings.
The workshop addressed the current reality facing Gaza Strip residents, particularly the impact of the war on the functioning of courts and justice institutions, and the resulting increase in family and community disputes. The issues discussed included disputes related to rent, debts, inheritance, and conflicts between neighbours in shelters and displacement sites.
Lawyer Samah Shuheiber presented an overview of alternative justice as a set of methods and procedures that enable parties to address their disputes outside conventional litigation. These mechanisms are based on dialogue, voluntary consent, impartiality, confidentiality, and respect for the rights of all parties. She stressed that such approaches are increasingly important in emergency contexts, as they offer faster, more flexible solutions that can reduce tensions within the community.
The workshop covered the main forms of alternative justice, foremost among them mediation, including its definition and fundamental principles—particularly confidentiality, voluntary participation by the parties, and mediator impartiality—as well as the types of disputes that may be addressed through mediation. It also examined arbitration, clarifying when it may be used and the types of cases that may not be referred to arbitration due to their nature or their connection to fundamental rights or public order.
The workshop also discussed the role of customary reconciliation and its importance in preserving civil peace and containing disputes, particularly under the exceptional circumstances facing the Gaza Strip. It stressed that these mechanisms must be grounded in respect for law and rights, contribute to preventing escalation, protect the most vulnerable groups, and promote understanding and solidarity within the community.
In its practical component, participants were introduced to how they can access mediation centres and competent bodies, as well as the institutions partnering with the “Strengthening Alternative Justice” Initiative. This enables women to access legal support, guidance, and services related to dispute resolution.
The workshop witnessed strong engagement from participating women, who raised questions and shared interventions concerning legal and social issues connected to their daily realities. At the conclusion of the workshop, lawyer Samah Shuheiber provided a number of direct legal consultations to attendees on personal cases related to debts, inheritance, and tenancy rights.
The beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the workshop’s content and affirmed their need for the continuation of such legal-awareness activities, given the complexity of disputes and the growing legal and social needs resulting from war, displacement, and the damage sustained by justice institutions.
ICSPR reaffirms its commitment, through the “Strengthening Alternative Justice in the Gaza Strip” Initiative, to promoting legal awareness, encouraging the use of peaceful and fair means of dispute resolution, and expanding women’s and other vulnerable groups’ access to legal guidance and services, thereby supporting the protection of rights, human dignity, and civil peace.
The workshop was implemented by the International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR), through the “Strengthening Alternative Justice in the Gaza Strip” Initiative, in partnership with The Shaikh Group (TSG).
