The Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (CCPRJ) was established in 2005 in order to contribute to effective mobilization and cooperation of civil society vis-à-vis Israeli policies that undermine Palestinian rights, identity and presence in occupied East Jerusalem. CCPRJ’s members are Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) working in the fields of culture, development, urban planning and human rights, including the rights of children, youth, women and Palestinian political prisoners and detainees.
East Jerusalem was illegally occupied and annexed by the state of Israel in June of 1967. Since that time, the Israeli government has instituted a series of discriminatory measures against Palestinians in the city, seeking to alter the status of Jerusalem and the facts on the ground in favour of Israel's Jewish population. Such measures have resulted in extensive home demolitions and the forced eviction and displacement of countless Palestinian families from their homes to make way for the construction of Jewish settlements on expropriated Palestinian land.
The construction of the Separation Wall surrounding Jerusalem, the severe restricions of movement due to military checkpoints, and the introduction of a permit system have severely restricted Palestinian social, economic and cultural life in Jerusalem. Additionally, such restrictions have created an insurmountable obstacles for those families separated by the Wall who must now seek family unification through official Israeli channels.
As a result of these and other related measures, there is a pressing need for intervention by the Palestinian and international communities. Immediate action must be taken to protect the rights afforded Palestinian Jerusalemites under international law, including their right to live in dignity. To this end, Palestinian NGOs should document Israeli violations of human rights in a systematic and professional manner.
The Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (the Coalition) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit coalition of organizations, institutions, societies, and associations dedicated to the promotion and protection of Palestinian rights in Jerusalem. Established in 2005, the Coalition has been working to combat human rights abuses under the Israeli occupation through research and legal analysis, advocacy and human rights education.
The Coalition's primary focus is on the following areas: 1) housing, land, and planning rights; 2) civil and political rights; 3) economic, social, and cultural rights; 4) the rights of the child (including the right to education); and 5) and the right to freedom of expression.
Mission: to mobilize efforts, capacities and resources of Palestinian civil society in order to protect the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinians in Jerusalem as enshrined in international human rights and humanitarian law.
Legal Status: CCPRJ is governed by its General Assembly composed of its member organizations and supervised by an elected Board. Since 2014, CCPRJ is registered as an independent, non-profit union with the Palestinian Authority. Prior to that, the Coalition had legal status via members serving as hosting organizations.
East Jerusalem headquarters: the Coalition’s work is coordinated by the CCPRJ executive office in East Jerusalem. Based on three-year strategic plans, the executive office also carries out a program which is designed to complement the activities of its members, and to amplify their impact.
