The Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) has been working towards abolishing the death penalty since the first death penalty sentence was issued after the creation of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, as it believes that the imposition of the death penalty in the Palestinian judicial system (military and civil courts) contravenes international law especially the right to life.
ICHR‘s project on the death penalty, funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and facilitated by the British Consulate in Jerusalem, aims at working towards the abolition of the death penalty in Palestine by reducing the number of offenses to which the death penalty applies in the laws used in the Palestinian Territory as well as the number of death penalty sentences issued. This is carried out through 4 main outputs:
By providing a study on the use of the death penalty (revision of current legislations, penal laws and procedures) with recommendations for positive change leading to reduce death penalty offenses and sentences.
By achieving assurances of fair procedures for death penalty trials in military courts and assurances that civilians are prosecuted in civil courts instead of military courts which is the current practice.
By holding workshops with Judiciary and lawyers to uphold international human rights standards through capacity building programs targeting military and civil court systems.
By raising awareness and debate in the public about death penalty issues.
