Al-Haq was established in 1979 by a group of Palestinian lawyers following extended debate over how best to address the lack of human rights protection mechanisms in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).  Founded as Law in the Service of Man, Al-Haq was one of the first human rights organisations established in the Arab world.  During its first years Al-Haq remained small, hiring only a few staff members in addition to its founding members.   

Al-Haq's focus during these first years was largely limited in scope to analysing the legal status of and legal structures imposed over the OPT.  Al-Haq produced some of the first studies ever written using humanitarian law to analyse a situation of occupation.  Al-Haq's early studies on topics such as administrative detention and Israel's usage of the British Defence Emergency Regulations were seminal in shaping debate on what is applicable law in the OPT.  Al-Haq's legal unit also developed during this period, working together with the research department to develop Al-Haq's positions and legal arguments.

By 1986 Al-Haq had developed to a point where it was ready to expand.  It was in this year that the organisation began taking on special projects on issues such as women's and labour rights.  During this time Al-Haq's work and contributions in the field of human rights began to gain international recognition.  In 1987, Al-Haq again began expanding its staff to meet the challenge of addressing violations arising from Israeli reaction to the intifada.  Al-Haq started its fieldwork department in 1983 and the information gathered by Al-Haq's fieldworkers was at the heart of its work, but it wasn't until the intifada and resultant demands for information that the fieldwork department grew to include staff all across the OPT.  During the intifada, Al-Haq developed into the primary source of information on human rights and humanitarian law violations in the OPT.  Al-Haq's database remains the only systematised and carefully categorised catalogue of human rights violations that have been committed in the OPT. 

The first intifada was a peak period for Al-Haq.  A number of important Al-Haq campaigns were started during this time and Al-Haq continued to grow, expanding into Gaza. It was during this period that Al-Haq was awarded the Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize.  By the early 1990s Al-Haq had approximately 40 members on staff.  Al-Haq's size and its increased capacity helped it to successfully raise awareness of human rights abuses in the OPT and gained Al-Haq international recognition. At the same time, the unrestrained growth of the organisation was not matched by developments in the organisation's administrative structure, at times causing a lack of cohesion between Al-Haq's departments. 

The signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 ushered in a new period in Palestinian history and greatly affected Al-Haq.  The changes in the political situation required that Al-Haq reassess its mission.  An outside facilitator was thus brought in and the organisation began a careful process of self-evaluation and strategic planning.  During the strategic planning process it became clear that two camps were emerging in the organisation on the issue of how to address the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).  Despite this disagreement Al-Haq began to move forward in work with the PNA, monitoring the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections in 1996, analysing legislation, and providing human rights training to PNA officials while at the same time monitoring PNA's human rights performance. 

The outside facilitator's evaluation of Al-Haq warned that latent disagreement in relation to political changes and how to deal with the situation as it changed if not addressed could lead the organisation to collapse.  His warnings were taken seriously, and Al-Haq began to reduce its size by closing its office in Gaza and by shedding projects in areas in which other organisations were working.  However, some disputes were never resolved and came to a head during late 1996 and early 1997.  Al-Haq's Board eventually intervened and terminated all staff contracts leaving the future of the organisation in doubt.   

In 1998, Al-Haq began to rebuild.  The Al-Haq Board of Trustees hired a new staff and took over many of the organisation's administrative responsibilities.  The organisation's focus was also changed, with the Board taking the decision that Al-Haq should focus most of its attention on legal research and little attention on documentation activities.  Work following up on draft PLC legislation and Israeli human rights violations moved forward.  

By 1999, individuals both inside and outside of Palestine were again coming to regard Al-Haq as a credible source of information on human rights violations in the OPT.  Towards the end of 1999 Al-Haq was granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and again began working on an international level.  Moving into 2000 Al-Haq began to rebuild its fieldwork and database units.  Financially stable and with its departments rebuilt, by the time the current intifada started in September 2000, Al-Haq was prepared to face the challenges that accompanied it. 

Between 2001 and 2002, Al-Haq began working to solidify and consolidate its structure and the Board, pleased with Al-Haq's work, returned to being a policy rather than an administrative Board.  During 2002 renewed emphasis was also placed on returning to those activities that were Al-Haq's traditional strengths such as legal research and documentation. Al-Haq's consultative status with ECOSOC was also activated, through preparing oral and written interventions, and parallel reports as well as attendance at meetings and conferences related to human rights organised by the UN.  2002 was also the year of "Operation Defensive Shield," during which Al-Haq's office in Ramallah was taken over by Israeli soldiers and one of its employees, Yaser al-Disi, was arrested and kept in administrative detention for three months, without charge or trial. 

As part of its work with the PLC, Al-Haq carried out its first conference entitled "Towards a Palestinian Strategy for Legislation" in April 2003 to evaluate the legislative process and put forward recommendations for the improvement of the work in the future and for a more independent and efficient functioning of the Palestinian judiciary. In addition to this, Al-Haq lawyers and legal researchers prepared memorandums suggesting amendments to draft legislation, and contributed to the civil society organisational efforts to lobby for Palestinian legislation which incorporate human rights standards.  The Research Unit was also involved with the Legal Unit of Al-Haq in the training of law enforcement officials, as well as civil society groups, in human rights and humanitarian law.

In 2004, a year particularly focused on advocacy, Al-Haq launched an international campaign on collective punishment, considered both as human rights violations and as war crimes. 

Al-Haq has been the West Bank Affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists - Geneva for over 20 years and it is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Habitat International Coalition and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). Al-Haq is also part of the Executive Committee of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) and of the Steering Committee of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations' Network (PNGO).

Al-Haq was originally registered as non-profit company according to Jordanian Law applicable in 1979 due to the lack of other means of legal registration.  However, with the advent of the PNA, Al-Haq changed its registration in accordance with the Palestinian NGO Law.

Al-Haq's Board of Directors focuses on matters of policy.  It is entrusted with the responsibility of adopting policies of Al-Haq and ensuring the financial and programmatic well-being of the organisation.

The Board appoints a General Director who reports regularly to the Board and is accountable to it.

The Board also approves Al-Haq's strategic plans, annual working plans and budgets.  In addition, it appoints an outside auditor who is accountable to them and reports back on an annual basis regarding the financial well-being of the organisation.  Two members of the Board are appointed to sign on cheques; at least one of the members of the Board is required to sign with the General Director on all cheques and transfers issued by the organisation.  The Board meets at least six times annually to address issues and make decisions relevant to their mandate.

A Steering Committee, consisting of the General Director, the Administrative Officer and the heads of the three programme units (Research and Advocacy Unit, Legal Unit and Monitoring and Documentation Unit), meet weekly to discuss programme issues and administrative issues related to the Al-Haq's work and activities.  The Steering Committee usually works by consensus in decision-making.  With regard to new appointments and human resource needs within the organisation, the Steering Committee submits its recommendation to the General Director who then makes the necessary decision regarding the matter.  Staff evaluation is carried out by the head of each unit together with the General Director.  The Board is consulted on matters of appointments and the suspension of work contracts, as well as on issues where opinions regarding the vision or direction of the organisation prove controversial.  

Al-Haq is currently in the process on finalising an administrative and financial manual for the organisation.

In accordance with the Palestinian NGO Law, Al-Haq established a General Assembly.  This body meets annually, and is responsible for the appointment of Al-Haq's external auditor who is accountable to them and must report annually on the financial matters of the organisation.  Al-Haq held its first General Assembly in March 2004.

As outlined above, Al-Haq is organised in three units: the Research and Advocacy Unit works to produce reports, papers, books and interventions on human rights abuses that include detailed legal analysis; the Legal Unit is involved in providing free legal aid and counseling for individual victims of human rights violations and the Monitoring and Documentation Unit constitutes the back-bone of Al-Haq's work in the field of human rights.  Documentation brought from the field from Al-Haq's fieldworkers, who are geographically dispersed around the West Bank, is used for both Al-Haq's research purposes and for our interventions.  All work is coordinated with Al-Haq's Administrative Officer. 

Monitoring and documenting human rights violations is of central importance to Al-Haq's work, and the organisation's work in this area is one of its most unique features.  First-hand documentation gathered by Al-Haq's fieldwork department and categorized in the Al-Haq databank is used in producing reports, in deciding upon areas in which legal aid and advice is needed, in carrying out interventions both locally and internationally, in developing the organisation as a major information resource, and is central to Al-Haq's efforts to maintain a record of international crimes (i.e., grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, war crimes, crimes against humanity) committed in the OPT.  The increased numbers of violations, difficulties in movement, and restrictions on access to many areas of the OPT in the current situation have also increased the importance of careful fieldwork. Information on violations is also important in identifying trends and attempting to build awareness of human rights issues.  Al-Haq is the one of the only Palestinian human rights organisations that systematically collects information on human rights violations using standardised procedures and forms.  It is also the one of the few human rights organisations in either Israel or Palestine with a comprehensive databank of systematically-compiled information on human rights violations that have occurred in the OPT during both intifadas. 

Al-Haq's provision of free legal services to the Palestinian community is another core area of work.  While Al-Haq does not take cases to court, the provision of legal assistance and advice is central to Al-Haq's programme.  The provision of services helps to keep Al-Haq in touch with the grassroots Palestinian community, keeping the organisation relevant locally.  Al-Haq offers advice and assistance to those who have been victims of human rights abuses.  However, Al-Haq cannot take on every case of abuse.  Al-Haq, therefore, only works on cases related to its core programme and its traditional areas of specialisation such as travel permits and family reunification cases.  When possible, Al-Haq refers individuals seeking help to specialised organisations working on such issues as prisoners' rights, land rights, women's rights, etc. in order not to duplicate the work of these organisations.  Al-Haq's work in this area is much needed, especially in these times of economic hardship when many of those most affected by human rights violations cannot afford the expense of a lawyer.   

Producing reports and analyses on human rights issues has always been a central part of Al-Haq's work.  Attention continues to be focused on the OPT, and the local and international communities continue to look to Al-Haq as an important source of information and legal analysis to shed light on the emerging political and human rights situation.  Al-Haq has a responsibility to continue to put its analysis based in law and on the facts at the disposal of interested parties such as the international public, governments, international human rights organisations and NGOs, Palestinian solidarity groups, the media, etc.    

Since it was founded, Al-Haq has continually produced detailed legal studies and analyses in order to raise awareness of the legal and human rights situation in the OPT.  This area of work remains important in part because, despite the peace process, Israeli authorities have retained complete control over security matters and have kept administrative and judicial powers that gave them virtually complete control over almost every aspect of Palestinian life.  The framework created by the Israeli authorities under which Israel's violations of human rights were made "lawful" also remains in place.  During recent months this framework has been vigorously reinforced, as the use of such measures as administrative detention, home demolitions and assassinations have increased.  Al-Haq's years of experience analysing Israeli policy and keeping track of developments in the Israeli control structures in the OPT places the organisation in a unique position to carry out work analysing this system of control and reporting on developments in this system and the effect they have on Palestinians' human rights.       

Advocating for the development of legislation by the Palestinian Legislative Council that meets international human rights standards is an activity undertaken by both Al-Haq's research and legal units.  Al-Haq works in this area by analysing draft legislation and laws and attempting to ensure that both conform to international human rights standards.  Al-Haq also holds workshops that aim at educating PLC members, specific segments of the population, and the general public regarding Palestinian laws and legislation.  Al-Haq began undertaking this work in 1996 soon after the PLC was elected and began to function.  Al-Haq's years of experience working in this field, its extensive knowledge of human rights law, and the reputation the organisation has built among Palestinian legislators places the organisation in a unique position to critique and influence the shape of legislation.  The PLC human rights committee regularly consults Al-Haq regarding human rights issues, and individual PLC members often look to Al-Haq's analyses before making decisions on important rights-related legislation.

Al-Haq's library remains the only public human rights resource centre in the OPT.  When Al-Haq was founded it began compiling a collection of books and materials on human rights.  This collection was soon turned into the Al-Haq library, which remains a central part of Al-Haq today.  With over 6,000 publications in Arabic and in English, Al-Haq's library is a unique source of publicly-available books, periodicals, legal documents and reference materials concerning both the OPT and human rights.  It is a vital information source for many students, academics, researchers and journalists, providing information and resources that are otherwise unavailable in the OPT.

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