ICSPR Implements an Awareness Workshop Under the “Promoting Alternative Justice” Initiative at Al-Jundi Al-Majhoul Camp
Date: September 12, 2026
Press Release
ICSPR Implements an Awareness Workshop Under the “Promoting Alternative Justice” Initiative at Al-Jundi Al-Majhoul Camp
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) implemented an awareness-raising workshop as part of the activities of the “Promoting Alternative Justice” initiative in the Gaza Strip. The workshop targeted 30 women at Al-Jundi Al-Majhoul Camp in the Al-Rimal area and was held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
The workshop was organized as part of efforts to raise women’s and community awareness of the importance of alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms and their role in addressing conflicts through peaceful approaches based on dialogue, mutual understanding, and consensual solutions. Such approaches can help prevent disputes from escalating, promote community peace, and improve access to justice.
The workshop was facilitated by lawyer Rawan Abu Watfa, with the participation of the initiative coordinator, Ms. Reda Al-Muzaini, and initiative members Ms. Iman Jundia and Mr. Omar Shaqoura. Participants actively engaged in discussions on community disputes and the importance of having the legal and community knowledge required to address them responsibly.
The session addressed the concept of alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms as a set of approaches that parties to a dispute may use to resolve their differences outside conventional litigation procedures, or alongside them, depending on the nature of the dispute and the applicable legal framework. The mechanisms discussed included negotiation, mediation, reconciliation, and arbitration, all of which are based on dialogue, mutual understanding, and efforts to reach mutually acceptable solutions.
The workshop also examined mediation as a process in which an impartial third party assists disputing parties in communicating and reaching an agreed settlement without imposing a binding decision. It addressed negotiation as direct dialogue between parties to a dispute aimed at reaching an agreement that takes their interests and rights into account. The session also discussed customary reconciliation and its community role in containing and addressing certain disputes within legal frameworks that safeguard rights and human dignity.
The session further addressed arbitration as a means of resolving disputes by submitting them to an arbitrator or arbitral tribunal for determination, in accordance with the legal procedures and safeguards governing this process.
The workshop affirmed that alternative mechanisms do not replace the role of the judiciary and courts. Rather, they constitute complementary options that may be used in certain disputes according to their nature and conditions, while courts remain the primary authority for judicial adjudication, protection of rights, and enforcement of the law. The workshop also stressed that no community-based or alternative mechanism should be used in a manner that violates the law or undermines individuals’ rights, particularly the rights of women and other vulnerable groups.
The workshop contributed to raising participants’ awareness of the concept and forms of alternative justice, strengthening their understanding of the importance of dialogue and calm communication in dealing with disputes, and encouraging them to seek legal advice and refer to competent institutions when needed, in a manner that protects rights and promotes justice.
This workshop forms part of a series of activities implemented by ICSPR in partnership with The Shaikh Group (TSG) under the “Promoting Alternative Justice” initiative. The initiative seeks to promote a culture of resolving disputes through peaceful and lawful means and to develop community awareness of rights and mechanisms for access to justice in the Gaza Strip.
