{"id":217,"date":"2025-10-14T14:08:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T12:08:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.menschenrechte.org\/en\/?p=217"},"modified":"2025-10-14T14:09:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T12:09:22","slug":"dont-be-pro-except-pro-human-rights-dialogue-across-divides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.menschenrechte.org\/en\/2025\/10\/14\/dont-be-pro-except-pro-human-rights-dialogue-across-divides\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201eDon\u2019t be pro, except pro human rights\u201c – Dialogue Across Divides"},"content":{"rendered":"

Talk with prize winning Parents Circle in our office<\/strong><\/p>\n

The day after receiving the International Nuremberg Human Rights Award 2025<\/em>, the representatives of Parents Circle \u2013 Families Forum, <\/em>Laila AlSheikh and Robi Damelin, visited us. The evening was marked by moving testimonies, honest dialogue, and deep reflection on what reconciliation can look like in the face of violence and loss.<\/p>\n

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Who They Are<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Parents Circle \u2013 Families Forum (PCFF)<\/em> is a unique joint Israeli-Palestinian organization of more than 800 families who have lost immediate relatives to the conflict. Founded in 1995, the group brings together bereaved Israelis and Palestinians in a shared commitment: transforming personal grief into a force for dialogue, empathy, and non-violence. For this courageous work, PCFF was honored this year with the International Nuremberg Human Rights Award.<\/p>\n

An Evening of Testimonies and Dialogue<\/strong><\/p>\n

In their meeting with our organization, the award winners shared their stories with remarkable openness. They both spoke about the profound pain of losing a child, a sibling, or a parent \u2013 but also about the deliberate choice not to let grief fuel hatred. Instead, they work tirelessly to build bridges between communities, advocating that reconciliation and peace are possible even under the most difficult circumstances. Both remarkable speakers emphasized the power of personal narratives to transform societies torn apart by conflict. Even for the Israelite Religious Community in Nuremberg, which was very skeptical at first, this transformation was palpable.<\/p>\n

\u201eDon\u2019t be pro, except pro human rights.\u201c<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the ceremony of the International Nuremberg Human Rights Award, Robi stated: \u201eDon\u2019t be pro Israel or pro Palestine, be part of the solution.\u201c She then concluded \u201eand if you can\u2019t be part of the solution, leave us alone.\u201c The following day, during our conversation at our office, she elaborated on these words, adding: \u201eDon\u2019t be pro, except pro human rights.\u201c<\/p>\n

She then explained that the PCFF\u2019s work is about finding common ground in mutual respect as a first and highly needed step for a real and sustainable peace process. Her fellow member Laila supported this perspective by emphasizing that she does not care if there are one, two or even more sovereign states as long as there is mutual respect for each other.<\/p>\n

\u201eWhat happens in the West Bank should worry us just as much.\u201c <\/strong><\/p>\n

Robi reminded us that our attention must not only be on the catastrophic situation in and around Gaza and the hostages, but also on the daily realities in the West Bank.: \u201eWhat happens in the West Bank should worry us just as much.\u201c She pointed out that the PCFF has two offices, one in Israel and one in the West Bank and that it is very hard to keep in touch with each other because of the heavy restrictions that are in place. Laila, who lives in the West Bank with her family, explained the physically and emotionally very stressful situation in the West Bank. The movement of people is heavily restricted, the daily needed infrastructure is completely insufficient and the danger of being killed is always present. This should be a reminder for ourselves, to keep our focus not just on the gross violations that happen in Gaza with the local population and the hostages but also in the West Bank.<\/p>\n

Beyond Personal Stories<\/strong><\/p>\n

The conversation went beyond individual testimonies. The PCFF also spoke about their educational and advocacy programs:<\/p>\n