The Institute of Law at Birzeit University Celebrates Graduation of First Class of The Specialised Diploma Programme in Legislative Drafting
The first of its kind in the Arab World, this Diploma Programme is designed to provide capacity building and enhancement in legislative drafting skills.
Dr. Samia Halileh, Birzeit University Vice President for Community Outreach, stated that the “Diploma Programme is an outcome of the continued effort made by the IoL Legislative Support Department (LSD) over extended years to consolidate good legislative drafting techniques and tools in Palestine.” The LSD has developed legislative drafting manuals in partnership with official bodies in Palestine. The Department has also organised local and regional training courses and diagnosed theoretical and practical gaps in the broader legislative process. Informed by relevant best practice and standards, the LSD has further developed some authoritative legislative drafting curricula.
Advisor Fawwaz Abu Zir, Assistant to Secretary General of the Council of Ministers for Legal Affairs, explained that the Diploma Programme “is a fruit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concluded between the Palestinian Government and IoL at Birzeit University.” The MoU seeks to maintain administrative and legal cooperation, particularly with a view to support and develop the Legal Affairs Department at the Palestinian Council of Ministers, upgrade legislative expertise, and update the existing Legislative Drafting Manual. Advisor Abu Zir asserted that the Diploma Programme “will not only improve targeted civil servants’ capacities and skills, but it will also reflect on official agencies, promoting quality of legislative texts and creating a balance within the body of operative legislation.” The Diploma Programme in Legislative Drafting is part of the nation-wide institution building process, recently culminated in granting Palestine the status of an observer state at the United Nations.
“The Diploma Programme has targeted 12 legal practitioners from across Palestinian line ministries and non-ministerial bodies. Participants were selected in line with transparent, integral standards. Training will positively reflect on professional performance of relevant bodies and contribute to institutionalising the legislative drafting process.” Abu Zir explained.
Mr. Jamil Salem, IoL Director, expounded that the idea of the Diploma Programme arose from IoL LSD’s past work on research projects, which focused on various aspects of the legislative process, including structure of the legal texts. This activity has unveiled formal and substantive imperfections in the drafting of Palestinian legislation. Some regulations are inconsistentor entail infringements on provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law. Other items of legislation show a deficientstructure of legal texts. In particular, the Diploma Programme is designed to provide capacity building for target groups in standardised legislative drafting, eventually promoting the quality of laws within the Palestinian legal system.
Mr. Mahmoud Alawneh, IoL LSD Manager and Coordinator of the Diploma Programme in Legislative Drafting, made a presentation on development phases and courses offered in the Diploma Programme. These include good legislative drafting principles and skills, linguistic rules in legislative drafting, regulatory impact assessment, legal informatics, and public and legislative policy making. The Programme also offers specialised courses on the legislative process. In this vein, the Diploma Programme focuses on building capacities of targeted civil servants. Mr. Alawneh extended his thanks to all trainers, who have rendered the first year of the Diploma Programme a success.
On behalf of graduates, Mr. Rushdi Zeid stressed the added value and high quality of the Diploma Programme. Training courses not only covered legislation, but also all necessary aspects that promote the rule of law and ensure an enhanced legal awareness in the Palestinian society. Mr. Rushdi expressed graduates’ thanks and gratitude to Birzeit University and IoL for sponsoring such a distinctive Diploma Programme. In particular, Mr. Rushdi thanked the Diploma Programme managers and trainers, who have made an effective and efficient contribution to developing participants’ performance and skills.
