Professor John Dugard, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 visited the University where he was welcomed by Professor Rami Hamdallah, the University President. Professor Hamdallah expressed his appreciation of Professor Dugard’s unstinting commitment towards securing the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories as laid out in International Law. He also called for international support to Palestinian universities to assist with the difficulties of the current time. Professor Dugard presented copy of his latest report to Professor Hamdallah on the human rights situation.
In a lecture in Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Theatre, Mr. Dugard drew parallels and differences between the discriminatory apartheid regime in his own country, South Africa, and the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Apartheid in South Africa was an institutionalized system for racial segregation bound by legal structures, and whilst the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is recognized under International Law, it is not accepted. Discrimination against Palestinian through the use of checkpoints, restrictions on movement and the denial of family reunification are all similar to apartheid, but in South Africa there were never any segregated roads, as exist in the West Bank. Political repression and imprisonment of those against the regime are also similar features between the two regimes, as is the division of the land into enclaves or Banthustans.
Professor Dugard noted that the military occupation was more akin to colonialism, which is illegal under International Law. In talking about the future, he expressed his view that while USA continues to hold sway with the Quartet and the UN General Assembly, the prospects for Palestine were bleak. He noted that Palestinian universities and academics play an important role in developing the future structures of statehood and in monitoring the violations against human rights. He added that in the land of miracles, we should all hope for one that leads to the Palestinian dream of establishing an independent state.
Professor Dugard lent support to his audience by saying that he understood the despair people feel having lived through the dark apartheid years in South Africa without any hope for its eventual removal.
At the end of the event, the University President presented to Professor Dugard the University Plaque in recognition of his contribution to justice and human rights. Dr Nabil Alawi, the Director of the Public Relations Department, which organized the event, said that such visits symbolize the  the efforts of the Public Relations Department to invite important personalities to the University and the city of Nablus to witness at first hand the current situation and the impact of the siege on life, institutions and people.