On Saturday (March 19), the Faculty of Law at Al Quds University hosted a meeting to discuss the research project of the Palestinian Bedouin at Risk of Forced Displacement project.

The event, which also marked the occasion of an official visit from Dr. Brendan Browne, from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, was to discuss the project which investigates the humanitarian impact of continued forcible transfer of the Bedouin communities living in the Jerusalem periphery in Palestine, and how impunity for violations of international law contributes to the deterioration of humanitarian vulnerabilities of these communities.

Dr. Munir Nuseibah, director and co-founder of the Al Quds University Human Rights Clinic co-hosted the event, for the project which is a collaboration between Al Quds University, Trinity College Dublin, Queens University Belfast, and Liverpool John Moores universities.

Al Quds University is the first Palestinian university to partner with Trinity College Dublin, Dr Browne said at the meeting, where he expressed his happiness for visiting the campus and working with his colleagues at the Human Rights Clinic face-to-face.

A presentation was given by Osama Al Risheq, Legal Supervisor at the clinic, highlighting the work and progress of four strands of the project – fieldwork, academic research, policy-facing stream and creative content.

The floor was also opened to colleagues from other departments, in addition to the executive Vice President of Al Quds University, Dr. Hasan Dweik, to ask any questions and discuss future collaborations.

Dr. Rabaia, Deputy Dean, praised the work of Al Quds Human Rights Clinic and their international partners and expressed full support from the university and the Faculty of Law for the valuable work and research which has already been produced by the project, and any future work currently being developed.

After the meeting, Dr. Browne took part of field visits to Bedouin communities in the Jerusalem periphery that are at risk of forced displacement by the Israeli authorities. Visiting the communities in Abu Nuwar and Khan Al Ahmar, he was able to see firsthand the challenges and restrictions faced by these communities which are slated for the expansion of Israeli settlements.

Al Quds University Human Rights Clinic, based in the Abu Dis campus, provides clinical legal education in human rights to undergraduate students. It was established in 2006 as the first clinical legal education program in Palestine and the first accredited program of its kind in the Arab world.