Introduction
Since the International Campaign of the Elimination of Violence against Women was launched in 1991, numerous organizations have been exerting annual activities and protests on the course of 16 days (Oct 25 - Dec 10), in order to view violence against women as a global phenomenon. These attempts are meant to lobby governments to reform their policies and internal laws, in consistence with the protection of women's rights and the eradication of violence practiced against them. Around 1700 organizations have participated in the campaign from over 135 countries.
Violence against women does not recognize political borders and is considered one of the most dangerous impediments responsible for sever damages in societies. Therefore, the dates of the campaign were chosen carefully and not by coincidence, to shed light on the discrimination exercised against women, consequently accentuate that violence is a blatant violation of human rights. The first day of the campaign (Oct 25) is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women while the last day (Dec 10) is the Human Rights Day
Despite the many annual activities organized by NGOs, International and local organizations, the rates of violence against women has not decreased, according to a study conducted by the UN last year.
The study indicates that every 2 out of 3 women experience violence, and that requires human rights organizations to continue to host events and activities in coordination with the International Campaign for the Elimination of Violence against Women until the minimum goals are achieved. For this reason, the Palestinian Woman Working Society for Development aims through different programs to:
· Contribute to achieve women's empowerment and promote their involvement in different aspects of life.
· Educate women of their rights, and raise society's awareness concerning violence based on gender.
· Urge the Palestinian decision makers to reform the policies and laws for the benefit of women's rights.
· Join local and international women rights committees and feminist coalitions.
Combating Violence against Women Campaign 2010
Campaign's objectives:
· To reaffirm the PWWSD's rejection of all forms of violence practiced against Palestinian women.
· To urge all sectors of society (governmental, civil organizations, political parties) to take an effective action to eradicate violence by all means.
· To demand the judiciary, executive and legislative authorities to take responsibility, and pay efforts to reject violence against women on one side, and help eliminate violence against women and secure women's rights on the other side.
Campaign's Timeframe
The PWWSD decided to launch its campaign on August 30 2010, as it organized a seminar in Nablus on the development of social protection policies for Palestinian women. The campaign preceded Amnesty's The Elimination of Violence against Women Campaign and continued until December.
The society's decision to begin its campaign earlier than internationally agreed was due to the drastic conditions of the Palestinian women, and the escalating rates of violence practiced against them in 2010. Palestinian women undergo a great injustice due to the deteriorating domestic situation, the Israeli occupation, the Palestinian political division, and the rigid patriarchal system which continues to govern the Palestinian society.
Campaign's Slogan: "No woman deserves to be harassed"
Because the PWWSD believes in Women's Rights, and calls for joint efforts to eliminate violence against women.
Campaign's Activities
1. Campaign's Initiation
A general meeting took place on Oct 12 2010 with the presence of many grassroots institutions, youth organizations, popular committees, and the PWWSD volunteers, in order to launch the campaign. During the meeting, tasks were distributed and activities were suggested and discussed.
Purpose of partnership: to stimulate social work based on public participation and to assure a positive change in society.
Moreover, the campaign was launched through the radio program "Bioyoun Ennessa'" and advertised in the local newspapers.
2. Preparing a memorandum of addressed violations against the Penal Code
The memo invites Mr. President Mahmoud Abbas to take the necessary actions, by either adopting the penal code developed by several woman rights organizations, or by suspending the articles which allow violations against Palestinian women's rights. The memo was handed out to governmental organizations, NGOS, educational institutions, and private organizations across the (OPT) to collect signatures. It is supposed to be delivered to the President on March 8 2011, in a demonstration organized by those who signed it.
3. Workshop on the Development of Social Protection Policies for Palestinian Women
The PWWSD organized a seminar in Nablus on Aug 30 2010, on the "Development of Social Protection Policies for Palestinian Women and the Initiation of a reference system in Palestine", hosting the Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Madjida Massri, the PWWSD's General Director Mrs. Amel Khriche, thw Director of the Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling Mrs. Maha Abou Daia, and the legal councilor for the Nablus district Lina Abdelhadi.
The seminar shed light on different issues concerning the development of social protection policies in Palestine. It explored the reality and challenges of implementing social protection policies for women; the methods applied to protect women against violence; and the latest updates concerning the establishment of a Palestinian reference system.
Participants also touched upon other issues including the government's role in combating violence and developing a system of social protection policies; the feminist movement's role in reinforcing social protection policies as to achieve women's empowerment; the system executed by the women's protection institutions and the different alternatives; and finally they discussed the system of Palestinian laws; the strategies of the private feminist movement aiming to protect and empower women through education; the counseling programs; and the necessity to overturn the unjust articles in the Palestinian law.
4. Workshop on the Alimony Fund – Real Life Witnesses
The Palestinian Working Women Society for Development organized a hearing session on the alimony fund. The session explored the PNA's responsibility to dedicate a budget for an alimony fund which covers women's needs, as well as its duty to undertake a media campaign in order to educate women of their essential rights.
Laywer Khadidja Zahran moderated the session which hosted the General Director of the Palestinian Working Women Society for Development Mrs. Amal Khreishe, the the Deputy Chief Judge Cheikh Mustapha Tawil, the Judge Asmahan Wahidi, and Ola Jamous from the Alimony Fund.
During the session, women expressed the following demands:
- Divorce cases should include full alimony, and should be presented by women only to one judge.
- To remove the fees imposed on women in alimony and judiciary cases.
- To modify the executive list in a way which assists women
- To educate working women of their alimony and its amount.
- To increase the compulsory alimony amount so that it secures a decent life for women and their children
5. Graffiti
The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development, in cooperation with "Al Heit" (On the Wall) group, organized a one-day activity of painting graffiti on a wall before the Palestinian Red Crescent's office in Al-Bireh. A group of 18 young women and men painted graffiti of images which reflected forms of violence practiced against women. Most of the volunteers were university students, accompanied by a talented group of school students who call themselves "Al Heit".
6. Workshop on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The workshop reviewed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on the 62nd anniversary of its announcement, in order to educate women of the declaration, the rights it protects, and to ultimately link these rights to women's rights.
In the beginning, a historical background of the declaration, considered the cradle of human rights ,was briefly introduced, as well as the international environment which delivered such a convention. Particularly, the first two articles of the declaration were emphasized for they state that all people are free and equal in dignity and rights. They also accentuate all forms of equality we as Palestinians pursue. The workshop then discussed the role of Palestinian women after 62 years of the declaration, linking it to the suffering of Palestinian women under the Israeli Occupation.
The meeting hinted that the purpose behind such workshops is to relate the international conventions and laws to the Palestinian women's rights, to protect them by the modern Palestinian Law, and to treat women as humans in the first place.
Mr. Shawan Jabarine, the Director General of Al-Haq organization, and the legal councilor and feminist activist Fatma Nazzal joined the workshop.
Mr. Jabarine explained the international environment which gave birth to such declaration, and talked about the importance of this declaration, despite his concerns that there has not been any effective implementation and activation of the deceleration until now.
He also explained the 30 articles of the declaration and the important issues it states.
7. Workshop in Gaza on Media's Role in Combating Violence against Women
The workshop which took place on Dec 11 2010 shed light on the media and its role in covering women's issues and the drastic violations committed against them, highlighting the different utilities media employs to cover women's issues. The workshop also explored the role of media in lobbying and mobilizing the decision-makers in favor of improving women's conditions in the Palestinian Society.
The workshop focused on the role of the media and the feminist organizations in protecting women against all forms of violence practiced upon them. It called to join hands and to exchange ideas in order to combat violence against women.
Suggestions and Recommendations
- To launch a media platform for Palestinian women and against the violence exercised upon them
- To stress the urgency of issuing laws which protect journalists and Palestinian women
- To increase the number of workshops conducted for women and men on the psychological and legal issues
