Al Mezan Center for Human Rights

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is a nongovernmental organization based in the Jabalia Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Al Mezan was chartered "to promote, protect and prevent violations of human rights in general and economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights in particular, to provide effective aid to those victims of such violations, and to enhance the quality of life of the community in marginalized sectors of the Gaza Strip" [http://www.mezan.org/site_en/about_mezan/index.php] . "Mezan" (ميزان) is Arabic for "balance" or "scales", as well as "justice" and "equity". The center claims to be non-partisan.

Activities

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights states it is dedicated to securing a permanent foundation for the protection of human rights in the Gaza Strip. Although it claims its long term aim is to foster development of full economic, social, and cultural rights, during the current heightened conflict between Israelis and Palestinians the Al Mezan Center has focused on what it alleges are accelerating violations of basic civil rights and human rights, primarily by the Israeli Defense Forces.

In the role of human rights monitor, the Al Mezan Center documents alleged human rights violations, such as disproportionate military attacks on civilian areas that result in widespread civilian casualties, the practice of imprisonment without trial, political assassination, and official policies condoning brutality and torture that undermine development of civil society. The Center also provides legal aid, advocacy, and capacity-building services and resources and conducts educational activities to raise awareness in the local community about basic human rights, democracy, and the importance of international humanitarian relief.

Funding

The organization's core donors are:

* Netherlands Representative Office
* Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
* Kerkinactie/ Global Ministries
* International Commission of Jurists- Sweden

Individual project donors are:

* Mertz Gilmore Foundation
* The French Consulate (funded the library in 2002-2003)
* The Ford Foundation

Affiliations

The organization is a member of the following networks and committees:
* Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Network (ESCR Network)
* Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)
* Coalition for Accountability and Integrity
* Middle East and North Africa Network to Stop the Use of Children as soldiers
* Habitat International Coalition - Housing and Land Rights Network
* MENA Network to Stop the Proliferation and Misuse of Small Arms & Light Weapons

Public perception

Israeli opinions

Israeli opinions of Al Mezan range from very positive to very negative. On one side of the spectrum, NGO Monitor asserts that Al Mezan "promot [es] claims of 'Israeli war crimes'; inflammatory pictures and accusatory statements and reports", and that it is "particularly active in pursuing a virulently anti-Israel political agenda, while entirely ignoring Palestinian terrorism." [http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/infofile.htm#al-mezan] [http://www.ngo-monitor.org/editions/v2n10/v2n10-6.htm] For a rather different perspective, B'Tselem asserts that the Al Mezan Center "attempts to address the needs of the marginalized population, suffering most profoundly from a lack of basic human rights, on a grassroots level. The Center aims to encourage the protection, promotion and respect of human rights in the Occupied Territories, especially economic, cultural and social rights, through a wide range of activities." [http://www.btselem.org/English/About_BTselem/Human_Rights_Sites.asp]

Palestinian opinions

International opinions

ee also

*Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research
*Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
*Amnesty International
*Human Rights Watch
*Democracy Watch (International)

References

* [http://www.mezan.org/site_en/index.php Al Mezan Center for Human Rights]