The General Assembly of GCMHP held its annual meeting on April 29th, 2004. In this meeting, the GCMHP 2003 narrative annual and financial reports were discussed and approved. The assembly also appointed Talal Abu Ghazala Company to be the financial auditor of the Programme.

Dr. El-Sarraj conducted a live interview with Islam on line internet site. To view the full dialogue, click

Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj conducted a live interview with Al-Arabia Satellite Channel, where he talked about the psychosocial aspects of spying of some Palestinians for Israel. Dr. Sarraj stressed that we should not exaggerate…we should not blame a few for the failure…we should not revenge…we should be careful to examine the causes.

Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) correspondent, Reiko Saisho, and Mr. Abed EL-Salaam Shehada, a director in Ramatan Studios made a documentary film about GCMHP where, Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj talked about the general situation and its psychosocial impact on Palestinian children. The press team also filmed a case with Samah Mahamoud, a mental health worker, about a traumatized child. Additionally, they filmed Dyaa Saymah, a mental health worker, with a case of a child in Kan Younis who was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of a losing a family member. The press team also met with professionals at the WEP and discussed the work of the conducted for women in the Palestinian society. At the end, they met with the research team of GCMHP and talked about the research on children. A Journalist Francesca Fraccaroli, a correspondent for an Italian Radio, met with Dr. El-Sarraj, where he talked about the general situation in the Palestinian community.

Ahmad Bin Abed Al-Aziz School sends a letter of appreciation for the contribution of the Programme to the students of the school, and for commemorating the students who have been reciting the Quran.

- Nassera Butin, Medical Director of Doctors without Borders in Jerusalem and Dr.Patrick met with Salah Abdel Shaffi, the Director General of the Programme.They talked

about the mutual cooperation between the two organizations in mental health.
- "I have had ample opportunity to witness the professionalism and dedication of the people employed by the Programme. It is truly impressive what you are doing." This was said by Mr. Soren Aarslev, Head of the Administration Department of RCT who visited the Programme from April 4th-7th. During his visit, he met with Salah Abdel Shaffi, Yousif El-Ghazali, Husam El-Nounou, and other professionals of GCMHP and discussed many matters related to the Programme and the activities conducted, as well as financial matters.
- Ms. Marjolein Vandeelen, senior policy officer, in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands and Mr. Martin Gischler and Robert Dekker met with Dr. Sarraj and talked about GCMHP activities and the general situation.
- Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, the Secretary General of the OLOF PALME INTERNATIONAL CENTER, and two other members of the center met with Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj. They discussed many issues relating to the general Palestinian situation as well as mutual cooperation between the two organizations.
-A delegation from UNICEF consisting of Joachim Paul, Project Consultant for Gaza, and Anne Grandjean, a Psychosocial Officer visited the Programme and met with Dr. Abdel Hamid Afana, Dr. Tayser Diab, and Mr. Safwat Diab. During the meeting, mutual cooperation between the two organizations at the levels of policy making and service delivery in the Occupied Territories were discussed.

A workshop was organized by Al-Ashbal and Al-Zahrat Foundation in Gaza celebrating the Children's International Day. A number of governmental and NGOs participated in this day. Dr. Sami awaida, the team leader of Gaza clinic, presented a paper titled "Dealing with Children in Difficult Circumstances". Dr. Owaida talked about the role of teachers in dealing with traumatized children.

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme organized a workshop titled "Political Violence in the Palestinian Community". This was in cooperation with the Office of National Association of the PA in Deir El Balah. Over 90 governmental and NGOs attended the workshop. Ms. Jamila Saidam, a member of the Palestinian Parliament and other officials presented papers at the workshop.

GCMHP children's committee held a two-day workshop on 21-22 of April for 20 teachers of Asmaa'a Bent Abi Baker School in Sheikh Radwan area. In the first day, the professionals talked about the violent behavior and its forms and causes. In the second day, they talked about the ways of dealing with it and alternative ways of punishment. Lectures were presented by Dr. Samy Oweida, Rawia Hamam, Inas Joda,and Mohammad Mukhaimar.

The GCMHP participated in a number of activities in co-operation with the Ministry of detainees and ex-prisoners celebrating the anniversary of Palestinian Prisoner's Day. The activities started by placing 7 huge signs placards in Gaza streets. A solidarity stay-in at ICRC headquarters in Gaza was the opening of the campaign week. A press release was issued and stickers and printed materials were also distributed at the stay in. A session was held at the Ministry of Detainees, where Mr. Salah Abdel Shaffi talked about the services provided by GCMHP for prisoners and ex-detainees. The GCMHP staff members participated in central national march in support of prisoners held on April 17th and co-organized a national festival held at Rashad El-Shawa Cultural Center. In the last day of the campaign, and in cooperation with treatment and rehabilitation of tortured victims center in Ramallah (TRC), GCMHP participated in a video-conference workshop held in this occasion. In this workshop, Mohamad El-Zeer made a presentation about the findings of a research study that he has conducted about Palestinian prisoners. At the end of the campaign, a CD and video clip will be prepared by the Video and Documentation Center of GCMHP.

Women Empowerment Programme (WEP) of GCMHP in cooperation with the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy- (MIFTAH) held a workshop about the bio-psychosocial effects of early marriage and its relation with intermarriage at Beit Hanoun activity hall. This workshop comes in as part of the campaign to raise awareness of reproduction health matters.

A delegation from GCMHP met the partner organization Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)-Israel in Cyprus. For two days, the group discussed issues of cooperation, means of communication, and the challenges that may face the implementation of the activities.

GCMHP children committee's members Rawia Hamam and Bushra Abu Leila participated in a workshop organized by Developmental Studies Program- Beir Zeit University. In this workshop, a number of local organizations discussed the issue of violence and its impact on children. This workshop comes in preparation for a comprehensive study on violence and its impact on Palestinian children.

Thirteen professionals of different specialties in the areas of medicine, nursing, psychology and sociology .

started their training for the Post Graduate Diploma. The first courses are child development, communication and counseling, and terminology of mental health concepts

A psychodrama course was held from 4-8 of April for 13 professionals of GCMHP and Union of Palestinian Medical Relief committees (UPMRC). This is the second phase of a two-year course, which started in July 2003. The third phase will commence in June and August of this year. The purpose of this course is to make professionals be acquainted with powerful instruments of psychodrama in their work. Dr. Ursu la Hauser, a Psychoanalyst and Psycho-dramatist, and Dr. Maja Hess, from Medico International in Switzerland trained at the course.

The Training and Education Department of GCMHP held an intensive training course in mental health and human rights for 19 police officers of Gaza prison. The course covers several topics including: torture and its psychosocial effects, physical and psychological problems related to prison, dealing with psychological stress, human rights in Palestine, and violent behavior and motives for crimes.

Dr. Jamal Qanan, and Mr. Ramadan El-Helo, steered a trans-generational session attended by 40 students of the 9th grade, 20 parents, and 10 of school teachers. The problems of the adolescents and how to deal with them were discussed among the groups. The purpose of this session is to enhance communication between students and parents.

The Training and Education Department of GCMHP conducted the second training course for volunteers titled "Mental Health". Twenty-three graduates of local universities participated in the course in order to train them on various issues of mental health. The course aims to make them be acquainted with the pressing mental health issues in the community.

A press release was issued condemning the assassination of

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On the occasion of World Health Day, GCMHP issued a press release in which the Israeli practices against the health sector were condemned.