Workshops on Personal Status Law in Jenin

 The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development has finished a series of educational workshops in Jenin, in cooperation with Fateh's office in the city. The workshops explored several issues concerning women, family and children in relation to the Jordanian Personal Status Law 1976, which continues to govern in the Palestinian Islamic Courts. The workshops which engaged women working on the UN's unemployment program, presented an explanation to the proposed amendments for the Palestinian Personal Status Law, which were developed in respect of women's and children's rights.

The specialists and legalists who participated in the sessions discussed domestic and social issues, including raising girl's age of marriage to 18 years old. The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development took part in a workshop organized by The Feminist Action Centre in Jenin's Refugee Camp, within the UN's developmental program "Together for the Protection of Women".

Lawyer Suzan Jarrar from the PWWSD proposed worksheets viewing women's status in the current applicable laws concerning the weaknesses and the strength points in providing protection for women and their rights. The worksheets touched upon the proposed amendments in the personal status law and the penal code. Jarrar focused particularly on women's right of inheritance.

On his part, Jenin's Mufti Mohammed Abu Rub, talked about Woman's emancipation in Islam, clarifying that the Islamic religious texts (Chariea) don't contradict with the universal principles of human rights and the combat to end discrimination against women. Nadia Malhis presented the visions and goals of the Girl's Rehabilitation Centre, and she viewed their cooperation with the governmental and non-governmental sectors, particularly the Ministry of Social Affairs, in rehabilitating the girls within a certain age.

Police Officer Reiad Mohammad Yehia, Chief of the Family Protection Department in Jenin's Police Office affirmed the department's ability and capability to receive and handle any case of violence at any time.

In conclusion, the participants stressed the necessity to amend the penal code and to activate a religious discourse that is in favor of women, and the need for the police to take effective actions to protect laws' implementation in general, and to protect women and society in particular.