Leading human rights attorney, Raji Sourani, received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award in 1991 in recognition of his assiduous dedication to human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. An advocate for rule of law, social justice, and democratic reform, Mr. Sourani has been imprisoned and tortured for his outspoken criticism of the abuses. He is critical of both Israel and the Palestinian National Authority for their failures to comply with their obligations under human rights law.
Mr. Sourani serves as the director of the Palestine Center for Human Rights (PCHR) http://www.pchrgaza.org, an independent legal body in Gaza that documents and investigates human rights abuses and provides legal aid and counseling to victims. The Center provides comments on Palestinian Draft Laws and urges the adoption of legislation that incorporates international human rights standards and basic democratic principles. The PCHR holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and is affiliated with a number of international human rights organizations.
Israeli restrictions and political instability in the Gaza Strip have made it difficult for the RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights to support Mr. Sourani's work. RFK Center, however, is currently creating strategies to revitalize relations and resources to advance his cause. RFK Center has sent a team to assist Mr. Sourani and the PCHR with its statistical database and is presently pursuing collaboration.
