5 Volunteer Opportunities in Law and Human Rights in Palestine: Many people interested in human rights and international law take an interest in the Middle East and particularly in Palestine, due to the unique and horrific situation of Palestine being under Israeli occupation. There are daily human rights abuses and violations of international law committed by Israel against Palestine and Palestinians. These are rarely covered in mainstream media, and when they do receive attention, the facts are totally distorted or omitted. The situation is portrayed through very biased, orientalist, and colonial lenses.
Many people around the world with an awareness about the Occupation and the Palestinian Issue want to do something to help, but may not know where to start. Particularly for those interested in careers or dedicating a significant portion of their life to working in human rights, international law, humanitarian aid, with refugees, and so on, volunteering in Palestine can be both an eye-opening experience and an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
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The Need For Law And Human Rights Volunteers In Palestine
Palestine is undergoing a horrific occupation by Israel, which causes a plethora of issues and challenges for the local population of Palestinians. Since the majority of Palestinians reside in regions subject to Israeli military law, those parts of the West Bank that are most affected by the Israeli occupation often experience the worst violations of human rights.
Due to Israel’s restrictions on them, it is especially challenging for large international legal or human rights NGOs to work in the region and help individuals in need. Also, these firms may struggle to find qualified foreign workers because obtaining the necessary work permits, which Israel must issue, can be challenging. This increases the reliance on and demand for short-term international volunteers, who are, in most cases, able to obtain a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival.
Where To Volunteer In This Area?
While Palestine is relatively small in terms of land mass, there are many places where volunteers can make a meaningful impact, such as in bigger cities and small villages.
Jerusalem And The West Bank
Larger cities such as Ramallah and Jerusalem are more westernized and have a significant expat population as well as greater infrastructure and opportunities for volunteers. Hebron is also a large city with a lot of infrastructure and volunteer opportunities, but with a much more affordable cost of living compared to Ramallah or especially Jerusalem. Remember to take into consideration that Hebron, along with Nablus, is one of the most conservative cities in the West Bank. While alcohol is not illegal, it is not socially acceptable to consume.
There are also law and human rights volunteer opportunities in refugee camps, Bedouin communities, and smaller cities such as Bethlehem, Nablus, and Jericho. Depending on the specific volunteer initiatives you are assigned to work on, there may be one location that is more suitable for you, as the different areas in the West Bank are impacted in a range of different ways by the Israeli occupation. If you care more about the place you will be living, it is advisable to choose a location that best meets your needs.
Gaza
However, one area that international volunteers will find it virtually impossible to volunteer in is Gaza. While the situation in Gaza is extremely severe and is exacerbated as a result of the ongoing Israeli blockade and siege of Gaza, this also prevents almost all internationals and non-Gazan Palestinians from entering Gaza, unless they can obtain special permission from Israel.
This means that Gaza is off-limits, but the West Bank is very accessible to international volunteers and visitors, and it is a very safe place for them.
Finding The Right Organization To Volunteer With
It is always advisable to carefully consider and thoroughly research any international internship or volunteer program that has taken your interest before applying or signing up. This ensures that your time and money are well-invested in the proper organization and volunteering project for you. Balancing finding the kind of volunteer work you wish to do with a quality and supportive organization in the correct location will help make your experience more impactful and fulfilling.
5 Volunteer Opportunities in Law and Human Rights in Palestine
During your program, Study in Palestine will provide you with numerous opportunities to meet with activists, lawyers, judges, and prominent individuals involved in human rights and the legal field, offering a tangible insight into the problems (and sometimes solutions) of human rights and laws here.
Our programs are highly valuable for enhancing your experience and CV, demonstrating to prospective employers that you possess real-life experience in an overseas, intercultural setting and in a challenging environment like Palestine.
On top of this, part of your program involves running workshops, particularly targeted towards Palestinian youth and students, about any topics in the human rights or legal fields that you have relevant expertise in that will benefit them. For example, a possible workshop could be about raising awareness for individuals about their rights and what they can do when these rights are violated.
Here you can check out all of these programs:
1. Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees
Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees: This program caters to undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, employees of human rights organizations, retirees, and anyone interested in engaging with the work concerning Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Palestine. Getting involved in refugee assistance presents an excellent opportunity for university students and recent graduates seeking to gain experience in the human rights field.
Through this project in the West Bank, volunteers will have the opportunity to work with Palestinian children, women, and youths to enhance each other’s skills, create mutual understanding, engage in language exchange, and make a difference in each other’s lives.
The Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees in the West Bank program is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 70. People from all countries and majors are welcome to join this program. There are no specific degree requirements. All that is required is a willingness to participate and help.
2. The Palestinian Women Rights Program
The Palestinian Women’s Rights Program in the West Bank is a volunteer initiative that allows international visitors to visit Palestine and gain exclusive insight into women’s rights in the West Bank. Located in the vibrant city of Hebron, the project provides participants with many opportunities to meet Palestinian women, visit women’s rights organizations, and engage in educational and cultural activities.
Aimed at educating international participants about the current power dynamics of women in Palestinian society, you will get involved with volunteering with Palestinian women by promoting their rights and empowering them in all spheres of life, including the family, the workplace, and politics, all whilst ensuring they are safe from violence, exploitation, and discrimination.
Altogether, this volunteer program will enable you to gain awareness about gender equality in Hebron (one of the most conservative cities in Palestine) whilst also allowing you to study and practice Arabic, meet other internationals, and experience Palestinian daily life.
3. Palestinian Law and Legal Systems Internship
Palestinian Law and Legal Systems Internship: This legal internship program is ideal for students of law, the social sciences, and human rights, as well as for anyone interested in the Palestinian legal system as it operates in the West Bank. As an intern, you can enroll for a period of from 1 to 13 weeks, year-round (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The Palestinian Law program aims to provide a full understanding of legislation applying to the West Bank and Gaza.
During the legal internship program, you will visit local Palestinian lawyers, law faculties, courts, human rights organizations, legal and religious institutions, as well as legal clinics in the city of Hebron, Palestine. You will witness the enactment of laws, the decision-making process, court rulings, legal negotiations, and mediations in various social settings.
4. Human Rights Internship in Palestine
Human Rights in Palestine Internship Program: Study in Palestine in Hebron offers human rights volunteer opportunities that highlight Palestinian rights and promote personal and professional growth. Students gain experience in international law, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid while enhancing their intercultural and Arabic language skills. Participants will raise awareness about human rights in the West Bank and support local communities through education.
Study in Palestine offers human rights internships and volunteer programs year-round for 1 to 13 weeks, with flexible start and end dates. Participants can learn Ammiya (Palestinian Arabic) and receive three hours of Arabic instruction weekly from qualified teachers. You’ll engage with Palestinian and international NGOs, professors, students, and human rights activists and participate in excursions to refugee camps and organizations, enhancing your academic work and Arabic skills.
5. Volunteer in Local Palestinian Villages
Volunteer in Local Palestinian Villages: This program offers an excellent opportunity for individuals of all ages, from students to retirees, to work directly with Palestinian communities in villages and rural areas of the West Bank, including Dura and the Hebron Hills, such as Masafer Yatta, Susya, Umm Al-Khayr, the Al-Fawwar refugee camp, and Bani Na’im. Volunteers will collaborate with Palestinian children, youth, women, and refugees to enhance their skills and participate in educational and recreational activities.
Volunteers will also learn Arabic to communicate with the locals and visit sites of Palestinian cultural and historical significance in and around Hebron city. This program is an excellent opportunity to deepen their understanding of daily life in Palestinian communities, security challenges, and resilience under occupation.
Flexible Program Duration And Timing
Study in Palestine offers all our participants a great degree of flexibility when it comes to their programs. We offer our programs year-round, providing participants with the flexibility to choose their own start and end dates. Additionally, you may decide how long you wish to participate for, from 1 week up to 13 weeks. 13 weeks is the maximum due to the 90-day limitation of the Israeli tourist visa.
Target Groups Within The Palestinian Community
Study in Palestine has worked since our founding in 2011 to build ties with the local community to make a difference in their lives and build a better future for our community members. We aim to make a difference in the lives of people from diverse backgrounds through our community initiatives, as well as volunteer programs and internships. In particular, these groups include but are not limited to Palestinian refugees, Palestinian school and university students, Palestinian children, Palestinian women, and Palestinian men and women living in the H2 area of Hebron (an area that Israeli settlers have partially taken over and live next to Palestinians).
Summer Law And Human Rights Programs
Study in Palestine offers students and others with a summer break a range of impactful summer Law and Human Rights volunteer opportunities in a safe and fun environment in Hebron, Palestine. Our summer programs are particularly ideal for anyone seeking summer volunteer or internship opportunities in the Middle East, Palestine, or close to the cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, or Bethlehem.
This allows you to spend your summer making a difference in the fields of law and human rights in Palestine, traveling, learning some Arabic, and making new friends. During the summer, you will gain real-life experience in the fields of law and/or human rights in Palestine, which will help make your CV stand out. It will also give you the chance to develop very valuable skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, adaptability, intercultural communication, and more.
During our summer law and human rights volunteer programs, we will also take you on visits to Hebron and to Bedouin areas (such as Susiya), Palestinian refugee camps, local villages, various local organizations, and around the old city of Hebron. This will also help you meet people from diverse backgrounds in Hebron who live in challenging circumstances due to the Israeli occupation.
Create A Meaningful Impact In Your Life And The Lives Of Others
We aim to make a long-term difference with all of our volunteer and internship programs, for both you and the Palestinian local community, including Palestinian children, women, men, and refugees. All of our Law and Human Rights internship programs are well-researched, targeted, and sustainable, aiming to have a meaningful impact and foster shared learning for both our community and you.
Volunteering or interning in the West Bank through short-term law and human rights volunteer programs offers a unique chance to make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you. There are a variety of ways you can make an impact, such as by working on projects and initiatives either in partnership with local organizations or by working directly with Palestinian youth or other segments of the local Palestinian community. You will also have many chances to develop relationships with Palestinians, which can be mutually fruitful, both personally and professionally.
Throughout your program, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Palestinian culture and daily life while learning directly from Palestinians about the country’s current political and human rights situation. You will gain more knowledge and be better equipped to significantly improve both your own life and the lives of local Palestinians.
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Conclusion
Volunteering in Palestine, particularly in the fields of law and/or human rights, can be a life-changing experience for volunteers and give them the chance to have a meaningful impact. The situation in Palestine is both severe and urgent, and individuals who are principled and passionate can contribute to making a difference.
Study in Palestine in Hebron, Palestine, offers a variety of short-term volunteer programs in the human rights and legal fields, as well as others. These volunteer experiences will allow you to gain practical on-the-ground experience in your chosen field or fields, as well as develop your skillset, and they also allow you to form lasting connections with Palestinians. This will make a difference in the lives of others and your own life. You can also make a difference when you return home with the new knowledge and experience you have gained about Palestine.
During your law and/or human rights program with us, we will provide accommodation, daily breakfast (except Fridays), and Arabic classes to help you integrate into the community and make the adjustment easier. We also include trips to a range of essential sites, areas, and organizations in Hebron, as well as meetings with relevant and key organizations and figures. You will also have the chance to work on your own initiatives, such as creating and facilitating workshops for local Palestinians to share your relevant expertise in law and/or human rights for their benefit.
We hope to welcome you to Study in Palestine soon to volunteer on the vitally important topics of law or human rights!
