Media Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions RAISING AWARENESS ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN PALESTINE Public awareness in Palestine about international human rights standards relating to the death penalty is limited. The death penalty remains a controversial issue among Palestinians. It is generally accepted and even encouraged. In 2009, the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) began a campaign to encourage public discussion and build community awareness about issues related to the death penalty. This project, developed in cooperation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Government, focused on four key objectives to achieve its goal of reducing the number of death sentences in Palestine: •• Producing a legal baseline study to be used in lobbying for the abolition of the death penalty •• Achieving assurances of fair procedures for death penalty trials in military courts •• Training legal professionals in international standards related to the death penalty •• Raising community awareness through a media campaign, as well as lectures and public meetings on the issue. The project was strongly supported by Palestinian civil society organizations. Discussion on abolishing the death penalty was also welcomed by participants in the workshops, open days, seminars and a national conference held by the ICHR. Participants in these events included members of the Palestinian Legislative Council; representatives of official Palestinian institutions and ministries, including the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Higher Judicial Council and the Military Judicial Commission; members of Palestinian political parties; lawyers; NGO representatives; university students; and members of the public. There was a strong media advocacy component to the campaign, including ICHR-led television talk shows on the issue, radio spots broadcast on local stations, advertising in printed and online newspapers, billboard advertising, banners erected on the streets of courthouses, and the distribution of flyers, sticker and brochures. In addition, the ICHR published regular media statements on issues related to the death penalty. The ICHR noted that there was a discernible change in attitudes towards the abolition of the death penalty among campaign stakeholders in the West Bank, including greater political will to address the issue. However, this was not reflected in the attitude of the de-facto Authority in the Gaza Strip. The campaign helped facilitate constructive public debate on this controversial issue, while successful media activities increased the interest of media professionals in reporting on issues related to the death penalty. The ICHR understands that changing deeply-held social attitudes requires a much longer timeframe. However, the campaign has positioned the ICHR as a key opinion leader on the issue among government institutions, NGOs, other civil society groups and the media, allowing it to build on the progress made so far. Chapter 3: Media advocacy | 43