Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron TIPH

 

TIPH is an international civilian observer mission. TIPH assists the parties in the normalisation of the situation in the city and reports on their efforts and the breaches of the agreements on Hebron and international law. TIPH reports to the Palestinian and Israeli authorities and to the six member countries.

 
 

Head of Mission

  HOM Oddvar
Oddvar Midtkandal

 
 

Community Relations

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Reaching out

 

 
 
 

Legal Advisers: Assessing TIPH’s Reports

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TIPH’s Legal Office contributes to the mission’s monitoring activities by assessing the Parties’ compliance with the Hebron agreements as well as internationally recognized human rights standards and international humanitarian law.

The Legal Office consists of a Senior Legal Adviser and a Legal Adviser, alternately from Switzerland and Sweden. The legal office plays a crucial role in assessing TIPH’s reports and deciding on the appropriate follow-up with the Parties.

The current Senior Legal Adviser is Dominik Heinzer from Switzerland and the Legal Adviser is Kenneth Ögren from Sweden

Rewards and Challenges

Dominik Heinzer has worked in the area of human rights for many years, in Switzerland and abroad. Before joining TIPH, he worked as an Associate Protection Officer with the UNHCR office in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

—I was attracted by the opportunity to work with human rights issues in this part of the Middle East and to learn more about the complex political and legal situation that prevails in Hebron and the occupied Palestinian territories.

In 2011, the Legal Office has so far assessed and followed-up on over 1000 incidents.

Each reported incident is different and requires careful review. In TIPH, we have an internal review system that looks at every incident from different angles. With respect to each incident deemed relevant under TIPH’s mandate we try to formulate an adequate response or appropriate comments to the Parties. We find any form of improvement regarding the Parties’ implementation or observation of their international legal obligations rewarding. Incidents where they fail to do so are particularly challenging.

Consult and Advice

Apart from assessing incidents and reviewing reports written by TIPH’s observers, the Legal Office directly advises the TIPH Head of Mission on all legal matters concerning the mission.

—For instance, we are responsible for all contracts and related claims pertaining to the mission. In that regard, it can be useful for us to consult the services of local lawyers with broad competence in the legislation applicable in the region.

Additionally, the Legal Office is responsible for providing training to TIPH members in the area of human rights and international humanitarian law. The Legal Office also assists human rights related capacity-building efforts directed at the local authorities and the civil society in Hebron.

—For me personally, the opportunity to contribute to the mission’s endeavors aiming at normalizing life in Hebron by monitoring the Parties’ compliance with the Hebron agreements, recognized human rights principles and international humanitarian law is very gratifying  and a valuable experience.