13 of Palestine, adversely and seriously affecting the Palestinian government’s ability to meet respective obligations towards Palestinian citizens. This has disproportionately impacted the most impoverished and vulnerable groups in Palestinian society. As a result, the Cash Assistance Programme which targets the poorer segments of society has stalled. Since September 2021, the government has been paying partial salaries to public servants. Consequently, some government personnel, including school teachers, physicians, engineers and paramedical professionals, declared strike, disrupting the provision of basic services to citizens. The ICHR played its active role, engaged in issues of public concern, and sought to democratise institutions and trade unions. Together with national academic and professional institutions and figures, the ICHR came up with initiatives, including restoration of regular schooling at government schools and democratisation of the Teachers Union. The ICHR also observed elections of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate. Thanks to ICHR interventions, some crises that obstructed certain public services, such as education and health, were resolved. In its interventions, the ICHR was informed by a rights-based approach, utilising the acceptance it enjoys among different parties. The ICHR welcomed phase two of the fourth local elections, which were held in 50 local government units (LGUs), comprising a major portion of the West Bank population. Since the first phase was scheduled, the Commission followed up on the electoral process and observed registration, nomination, campaigning, polling, counting, and announcement of electoral results. The ICHR published many awareness leaflets, called voters to contact the ICHR for any comments or violations at any stage of the electoral process. The ICHR further followed up on many issues and complaints on the elections as well as on relevant rights and freedoms. In this context, the ICHR reiterates its call to complete the third phase of local elections, which is supposed to be held at LGUs across the Gaza Strip. Of note, Gaza LGUs have not been elected since the first local elections were organised on a partial basis in 2004-2005. Once again, the ICHR demands that the Hamas movement allow local elections to be held in the Gaza Strip and enable citizens to exercise their right to vote and to stand for election. The ICHR also calls for opening dialogue between all stakeholders with a view to overcoming any potential obstacles to the third phase of local elections in Gaza. The ICHR continued to monitor significant issues, including torture and illtreatment. The Commission discussed its shadow report on the initial report submitted by the State of Palestine on the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The ICHR made specific recommendations against torture as well as to promote safeguards against ill-treatment of detained persons. In collaboration with the Executive Summary 2022