International standards on written and oral advocacy are key instruments for lawyers to ensure consistency, professionalism, and effectiveness.

The goal of these standards is to ensure justice is served in a transparent and impartial manner, thus protecting the rights of both the accused and the public.

To further enhance the skills of the Palestinian legal practitioners in using international standards, particularly those included in the International Bill of Human Rights, in their oral and written advocacy before national criminal courts, EUPOL COPPS organised a three-day workshop for 25 Palestinian lawyers 9 females), starting on 24 April in Ramallah.

The workshop, delivered by a veteran practicing lawyer and former Judge, Ahmad Ashqar, included a presentation on how to use the international agreements in the Palestinian domestic legal system.

During the workshop, Mr. Ashqar tackled also topics such as strengthening the ability of lawyers to address issues related to the incompatibility of Palestinian domestic legislation with international standards; developing the skills of lawyers in applying the necessary international standards in judicial practice, familiarising lawyers on international law and the rulings of the Palestinian Constitutional Court on the superiority of international agreements over national legislation through the review of international and regional judicial applications.

The workshop included an overview of how Sweden incorporates international standards and agreements into its domestic courts, serving as an example within the EU.