Yesh Din
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| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Type |
Non-profit NGO |
| Focus | "the extent of Israel's implementation of its duty to protect the Palestinian civilians under its armed forces' occupation" |
| Location | |
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Area served
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West Bank |
| Method | reporting human rights abuses, legal actions, direct advocacy with the authorities and working with the media to encourage debate |
| Mission | "work to uphold the rule of law in the occupied territories and monitor the Israeli law enforcement system in those territories" |
| Website | www.yesh-din.org |
Yesh Din: Volunteers for Human Rights (Hebrew: יש דין) is an Israeli organization working in Israel and in the West Bank. The organization was founded in 2005 by a group of women who previously worked with the organization Machsom Watch . The purpose of Yesh Din, as reflected in its publications, is to work “for structural, long-term improvement to human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT)”. The organization’s name in Hebrew – there is law – “reflects the belief that equitable application of local and international law is an important component in upholding human rights”.
Yesh Din collects and disseminates information regarding violations of Palestinians’ human rights in the West Bank; applies public and legal pressure over Israel’s authorities; and raises public awareness to these issues.
The organization conducts three main projects. The first project applies to law enforcement regarding Israeli citizens suspected of harming Palestinians. According to the organization, volunteers collect testimonies from Palestinians who claim that they have been injured or that their property has been damaged by Israeli citizens, and, if the need arises, accompany them to police stations to file a complaint.
The organization’s legal advisor, Atty. Michael Sfard, and lawyers from his office follow the investigations, examine the investigation files in cases which didn’t lead to indictment and sometimes file petitions. According to its records, up until September 2015, the organization followed more than 1,000 investigation files. The organization publishes reports and periodical data sheets documenting law enforcement regarding Israeli citizens who commit what the organization defines as "ideologically motivated offences" against Palestinians. According to Yesh Din, 85% of investigation files in these cases are closed due to police failure and only 7.5 lead to indictments.
A second project deals with the accountability of Israeli security forces personnel suspected of committing offences against Palestinians in the West Bank. The organization represents Palestinians who filed complaints against soldiers and police officers and follows the investigations of Military Police Criminal Investigations Division (MPCID) and the Department of Police Investigations (DPI). The organization works legally and publicly to improve the conduct of law authorities in the West Bank. The organization petitioned to HCJ (High Court of Justice) demanding to reveal protocols from the military courts, where its volunteers observed the discussions. Following the petition, state attorney announced that the organization will be given a “general review permit” for the military courts’ files.
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