Sixth lecture: «Citizenship and the economic rights of Palestinian youth»

The Pal-Think for Strategic Studies institution organised the sixth lecture within the project “Strengthening the democratic and civic values of the youth”, titled “Citizenship and the economic rights of Palestinian youth”, in the Gaza Strip, with the attendance and participation of 20 young men and women of the university students from the various geographical areas.

The lecture was opened by Ms Sally al-Sammak, the projects officer at Pal-Think, and she spoke of the institution's effective role in supporting the youth and the youth teams, and the effect of these lectures and activities on developing the thought of individuals and groups and making their minds aware, and pointed out that this lecture aims at defining the fundamental citizenship rights.

The lecture was presented by Dr Raed Hilles, the expert and specialist in the economic affair, where he spoke of the importance of citizenship as a quality granted to the citizen, by virtue of which several matters are determined, among them: the rights, and the duties — for it includes the citizen's belonging to their homeland springing from their love for it, and their serving it at all times and occasions, and respect for the other citizens who live with them on the same land, and with whom they share the food, the drink, the past, the present, and the future.

He moved to defining the economic rights within human rights, which treat the fundamental economic conditions necessary for living in dignity and freedom, related to work, social security, the standard of living, education, food, water, housing, the healthy environment, and culture.

He concluded at the lecture's end with the importance of the citizen acquiring the economic rights that provide them a dignified life and a suitable living, in light of the circumstances the Palestinian street lives through of economic and social crises.

Noting that this project continues for six months with funding from the Canadian government, and includes ten educational lectures and radio episodes on the issues of democracy and political development in Palestinian society, in addition to three training courses in subjects related to fighting corruption and strengthening the instruments of societal accountability and transparency in Palestinian society.