Hebron and Beyond: Settlements, Occupation, and Youth Resistance

Issa Amro is a prominent human rights defender in Hebron/ Palestine and founder of many nonviolent organizations. He regularly gives tours to diplomats and officials, formal delegations, and other visitors. He has testified before the UN on numerous occasions.

In 2016 Issa was honored by the Institute for Middle East Understanding. In 2013 he was declared a Human Right Defender by the European Union. In 2010 he became OHCHR human rights defender of the year in Palestine. In 2009 he won the One World media award in 2009 for his involvement in B'Tselem's "Shooting Back" project.

Issa Amro is founder and coordinator of Youth Against Settlements (YAS), a group of human rights defenders that strengthens the local community's steadfastness against the expansion of illegal settlements and documents human rights violations. For local and international media YAS is often the first source of information from the ground, for them to understand what life is like under occupation. Working out of their center in Tel Rumeida, Hebron, the group educates young Palestinians in nonviolent resistance through nonviolent action, media, and advocacy work.

Through resilience campaigns YAS also helps families suffering from settlement encroachment and harrassment to remain in their homes. As part of the campaign, YAS has built up and maintains the first kindergarten for Palestinian children in Hebron's H2 area. One of the main flagship campaigns of YAS is its yearly Open Shuhada Street Campaign, which is implemented both in Palestine and internationally. Direct actions and activities for human rights are implemented on a continuous basis.

Issa's October schedule is at issaamro2016speakingtour.weebly.com.

Jewish Voice for Peace-Bay Area, CODEPINK Women for Peace-Bay Area, Nor.Cal. Friends of Sabeel and American Muslims for Palestine are co-sponsors of the 10/21 event and Issa Amro's 2016 tour. More sponsors to come.

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