Hebron – The Hebron Community Center for Elderly and Youth Education in partnership with the Palestinian Center for Communication and Development Strategies organized a consultation workshop as part of an initiative: “Emergent Response to Reduce Violence against Elderly in Refugee Camps According to International Humanitarian Law” within the activities of “The Palestinian Consortium for Non-Violence: towards a regional movement on Non-Violence” project implemented by Pal-Think for Strategic Studies and FXB-France.

A number of representatives from human rights institutes, elderly and journalists attended the workshop which aims at offering the best ways to confront verbal and physical violence practiced against the elderly in the camps of the of the West Bank. This violence is resulted due to deteriorating and bleeding economic and social situations in the area that are both believed to be caused owing to the compelling closure in the West Bank. In addition, this workshop proposed psychological, social and legal-related support for the elderly against whom violence is practiced and whom they are threatened to be exposed to brutal violence. The workshop was dedicated to contributing in reassuring the elderly that they do not have to worry about the current pandemic as long as they abide by the ministry of health instructions. 

The participants accentuated the significance to place the elderly as a priority in continuously offering social and psychological support for those dwelling in the camps during the unfolding of COVID-19, stressing that NGOs have to closely work together with this specific target group in order to find alternatives for the health and economic crises they have been struggling with and providing them with the necessary instructions of how to confront the virus.