RCHRS’s Human Rights and Tolerance Program is designed to enhance tolerance and build an appreciation for human rights within Palestine. Our aim is to reconcile religious thought with human rights and deepen the values of tolerance, secularism and acceptance of diversity within Palestinian culture. 

Tolerance, as understood by RCHRS, is the willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs and practices of others and to allow others to be different.  Exercising tolerance means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally diverse in their appearance, opinion, speech, behaviour and values, have the right to live in peace and to be respected for who they are and for their beliefs.  It is based on an understanding that there is rich cultural diversity in our world and that this difference should be celebrated.   Tolerance involves the rejection of fanaticism, dogmatism and absolutism and affirms the standards set out in international human rights law.   As such, it is not only a moral duty but a political and legal requirement. 

RCHRS strongly believes that tolerance – fostered by education and dialogue – is a cornerstone to building societies that are stable, peaceful, and democratic.  Our Human Rights and Tolerance Program is divided into two parts.  First, we focus on trying to reform religious ideology by making connections between religious thought and human rights.  Second, we try and change attitudes to make Palestinians more accepting of others different from themselves.  To do this, RCHRS uses workshops, training sessions, surveys, publications, conferences.  These tasks are carried out at the local level and also at the regional level through the Arab Network for Tolerance, another RCHRS-led initiative.