Workshop on Role of Civil Society Organizations in Advocating Women's Issues

The counseling program at the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development conducted a workshop in Tulkarem, on the role of the civil society organizations in advocating women's issues in general, and women's social and psychological issues in particular. Representatives of 15 governmental and non-governmental organizations participated in the session which was hosted by the coordinator Rasha Aboushi. Aboushi welcomed the participants, and emphasized the importance of cooperation and complementary work to provide efficient services for women.

On her part, counselor Shrine Tahan, emphasized the importance of developing a reliable and professional reference system between the organizations, to serve the urgent psychological and social cases. She called to form a complementary and uncompetitive committee of the participants, to follow up with the urgent cases of violated women, in order to decide the type of service their cases require.

Muthanna Abou Sa', the director of the family counseling unit in Tulkarem's police department, emphasized the importance of networking, cooperation and coordination between the organizations, in order to provide the most efficient counseling services for women. Omayma Shahrour, the YMCA's coordinator, demanded a psychological and social family rehabilitation, and the expansion and development of the family counseling services unit in general, and the women's counseling unit in particular, as well as establishing safe shelters for the urgent cases in the governance.

In conclusion, the participants recommended forming a coalition or an official committee, to handle the urgent cases, to develop a joint plan in order to provide the counseling services in a complementary manner, and to focus on the preventive intervention in relation to women's social, psychological and legal issues. Moreover, the committee will be responsible for developing the organizations' work concerning family counseling, and preparing a brochure/profile of each organization working in the civil society in general, and the organizations operating on women's psychological health in particular. A website will also be established to provide counseling services for women via video and audio.