PWWSD organizes Workshop on Women’s Political Participation and Combating VAW

The Women Empowerment program in Gaza conducted several workshops in Khanyouness and Khaza’a, in which the civic educator Hanan Syam focused on violence practiced against women. Ms. Hanan Syam accentuated that women’s political participation whether by running for elections or voting, is essential to reinforcing their position in the public life. The workshop aimed to educate women and build their capacities, in order to empower their role in society.   

Syam thoroughly discussed the issue of violence against women. She explored multiple cases of violated women, as she also introduced the definition of violence, its forms and the possible ways to combat it. Violence against women is part of a cause-and-effect chain of societal violence; the husband violates his wife and children, therefore the mother releases her anger upon her children; the boss violates the worker; the rich the poor; and the Israeli occupation oppresses all. In this regard, Syam talked about the laws which protect women and secure their rights. However, she urged the duty bearers to modify the applied laws in the Palestinian Territory to become in favor of women. She advised violated women to seek help by professional specialists in the social protection centers. She also advised them to call the open-line, which is available around the hour, and operates only to protect women.

On the other hand, to commemorate the International Week to combat Violence against Women, the civic education program at the PWWSD in Tulkarem conducted an educational workshop under the slogan: “Hand in Hand to Combat VAW”. Civic educator Ashwak Omar led the session, which also featured a documentary film on VAW. In the end of the session, the participants recommended putting more efforts to combat violence against women, by raising awareness, modifying the laws, bettering women’s economic conditions and determining a minimum age for marriage, and finally modifying the school curricula.