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Issa Amro is a prominent human rights defender in Hebron/ Palestine and founder of many non-violent organizations in Hebron. He regularly meets with and gives tours to state diplomats and officials, IFPB delegations, and other visitors to Hebron. He has testified before the UN on numerous occasions.
In 2016 Issa was honored by the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU). 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 right violations. For local and international media YAS is often the first source of information from the ground. In their center, located in Tel Rumeida/ Hebron, the group regularly receives groups of local and international activists, observers and diplomats to teach them about the reality under occupation. The group further aims at educating young Palestinians in nonviolent resistance through nonviolent action, media, and advocacy work.
Through resilience campaigns YAS also helps families suffering from settlements and other occupation activities 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, as for example with Hebron Defenders. This nonviolent action group was set up to protect local people at risk from settler violence.