Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)

Supporting Human Rights and Legal Assistance to Palestinians

BACKGROUND

Working since 1974 to protect and defend Palestinian Rights, JLAC has been one of the Palestinian organizations capable of lawfully representing Palestinians in Palestinian and Israeli courts at the same time. Since that time the demand for JLAC’s legal representation services has been rapidly increasing with the past three and a half years of the renewed conflict reaching peak levels. The organization, with its limited resources, is struggling to handle as many cases as possible, yet the demand far exceeds the means available, particularly with so few Palestinian organizations working in this field as well as the number of qualified lawyers. JLAC has been focusing on the legal representation of political prisoners, especially administrative detainees, victims of Israel’s land confiscation policies, house demolitions, denial of residency, and other social and economic rights. JLAC also aims to ensure and protect human rights and the rule of law in Palestine through adopting public interest cases, recognizing that a considerable weakness exists in the Palestinian Authority’s ability to deal effectively with these vital issues.

Further complicating the situation is the dire social and economic situation that has resulted from the intense nature of the occupation of the past three years. Palestinians are living with increasing rate of poverty, high unemployment, and lack of infrastructure, effective government and rule of law. These factors combined with the expensive and bureaucratic Israeli legal system often pushes the ability of ordinary Palestinians to defend their rights and present them in court. This frequently results in the loss of land, home, income and cultural heritage. It is the mission of JLAC to speak out for those who do not have the means to do so and to provide them with every facility at its disposal to defend these rights. The rights of Palestinians are protected by international law, yet the individual people are often left to their own devices, not knowing what they can do to protect themselves. JLAC strives to improve the ability of the Palestinian community to defend their inherent rights and is actively working in the legal representation and defending of rights, so your assistance is crucial, please donate to the center.

Banking Details of JLAC

Name of bank: Arab Bank, Al-Bireh Branch

Branch number: 9030

SWIFT code: arabps22030

Address: Ramallah, Palestine

Phone: +972 2 295 9581

Fax: +972 2 295 9588

www.arabbank.ps

Name of account beneficiary: Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center

Account number: 627840/510