PWWSD organizes Meeting on Ways of Supporting Women in Upcoming Local Elections

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development organized a discussion at its headquarters in Ramallah, which joined cal authorities’ members, and representatives of many grassroots organizations, to view the possible ways of assuring a wider women participation in the upcoming local elections. The participants accentuated the role of the Ministry of Local Government in advocating women, and strengthening their participation in the elections, whether by running for membership, or by voting. They also explored the obligation of the feminist movement to encourage women to take part in the local elections, and to promote and support their role.

Suhad Abdel-latif, the coordinator at the programs office in the organization, went though information and factors proposed by the central elections committee on the electoral process, the social trends, and the readiness to participate in the elections, as well as the possibilities to engage a deeper engagement of women in the elections.

Moreover, the campaign launched by organizations across the OPT raised the voice to support women’s right to elect and to vote. The local authorities’ representatives shared their practical experiences, the difficulties and challenges they encountered, and the knowledge the acquired by running the electoral process, so as to encourage other women to live the experience, and to participate effectively and actively in the elections, avoiding repetitive failures, and continuing to build on the successes of previous female members.

The meeting aimed to activate the mobilization for the participation in the elections, as it is a legal, social and political right, and to promote women’s participation as voters and candidates. This initiative  comes under the educational and civic campaign that is being implemented by the PWWSD recently.

PWWSD calls for Greater Representation of Women in the Upcoming Government

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development welcomes the belated agreement between Hamas and Fateh that have signed the Egyptian reconciliation deal to end a phase of geopolitical division, and a bitter period of the Palestinian history. That black period severed the Palestinian cause, allowing Israel the space to increase its offensives, confiscations and judiazation of Palestine. Israel, during the years of the division has continued to build more blocks of settlements across the OPT, has completed the separation wall, and continued to commit mass-arrests against thousands of Palestinians, in addition to committing atrocious massacres against them.  

The organization considers the agreement a step closer to ending the Israeli Occupation which is a priority to the Palestinian people. Yet to be able to do so, we need to have a coherent strong leadership, to build a cohesive society based on gender equality and social justice, and to tie the national struggle to the social struggle. On this occasion, the organization addresses the Palestinian president Mr. Mahmoud Abbess, and all Palestinian parties, urging them to engage more women in the committees and bodies planned to be formed, according to the Egyptian deal. The organization accentuates a just participation by women in the upcoming government, and the importance that they be given responsibility of critical ministries (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs...) , for women have proven their capability of fighting in the political arena, as well as in the national struggle against the Israeli Occupation.

In relation, the organization emphasizes that the agreement must have a promising influence on the Palestinian society, and should be positively reflected on women, children, young people and the youth movement. The suffering due to the Israeli Occupation, had its implications on all Palestinian people, therefore the participation in the upcoming government should be available to all social segments without any limited and narrow considerations.  We also urge the upcoming government to prioritize ending the Israeli siege  that is enforced upon Gaza on the regional and international levels. Yet, on the local level, we call upon the government to accelerate the issuance of Palestinian laws, particularly the law of penalties and the personal status law, for they have a huge influence on people and women’s protection.

We also call for a validation of the administrative procedures required to make the laws and the presidential decrees applicable in Palestine, especially the presidential decrees endorsing CEDAW and the UN resolution 1325. And we reaffirm the urgency to take instant procedures concerning the adverse articles in the current penalties law which discriminate against women, and are needed to be suspended immediately.  

PWWSD organizes Workshops on Special Needs and the Dangers of Early Marriage

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development organized a workshop for mothers who have special need children in Beit Rima in Ramallah. The workshop which was moderated by the counselor Khitam Zahran, focused on educating women on how to handle and respect their special need children, and how to fulfill their needs and respect their feelings. The counselor explained that the special needs enjoy the same human rights and an equal status in our society, and that there physical disability should not stands between them and their aspirations in life, on the contrary it should motivate them to pursue their dreams.  

Zahran added that in order to improve the conditions of the special needs, the family, the school, the concerned organizations have to join efforts, and to engage the special needs in the social and entertainment activities.  

The workshop also discussed the issue of hysterectomy, and the stereotypical image of the special needs, especially special need women, who are dependent on their families, and sometimes accused of being possessed. However, nowadays this image has changed as the special need women receive social and medical attention, despite the continuous harassment.

The civic education program at the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development implemented several activities in Tulkarem, which were directed at many women from the villages and the camps in the city. Through the activities the participants discussed several issues concerning women like gender, the dangers of early marriage, and the important role of women in the local elections, as well as women’s important role in the public life. In addition, the participants went though many concepts concerning the feminist demands and gender issues. The counselor Ashwak Omar talked about the dangers of early marriage on young women, their families and the society, and she urged the participants to work together to decrease this phenomenon in the Palestinian society.

Workshop to Support Women Organizations and Societies

The Women Empowerment Project, implemented by the Palestinian Working Women Society for Development, organized a workshop at the PWWSD's office in Ramallah, on the importance of women's role and participation in the economic development. The participants emphasized on utilizing media networks to promote the strategies and plans of the ministries of Labor and Social Affairs. They also urged official organizations to support and communicate with women associations and societies, aimed at protecting women and reinforcing their resilience and independence, in order to bridge gaps between the two sectors.

Labor Minister Dr. Ahmed Majdalani, and coordinator of the Supreme Council for Charity Mrs. Suhair Abou Taka, attended the opening session, in company with a crowd of women and coordinators of charity cooperative societies in Ramallah area.

Labor Minister Dr. Ahmed Majdalani confirmed that his ministry takes into deep consideration the working women's issues, and has dedicated a national fund to employ women in order to improve their drastic conditions. The minister explained that the government has prepared an inclusive socioeconomic plan for development aimed at reinforcing national resilience and stopping the Israeli Occupation, and this plan is implied in the ministry's strategy for development and building state institutes.

The minister added those women's abilities to tolerate the social and national conditions and their participation in the public service exceeds that of the man. The ministry has carried out a number of programs, concerning economic empowerment, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs, through which an inclusive survey of poor families will be conducted to examine their conditions. Specialized committees will make field visits to secure a shift from a mere social assistance to economic empowerment.

On social protection, the minister stressed that the ministry offers a free health insurance program for unemployed people, and who have an income of less than 1500 NIS, regardless of their gender. The program covers to this date more than 68 thousand families, and its services range from regular examinations to open-heart surgeries.

The general director of the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development Mrs. Amel Khriche said that the workshop's objective is to educate women in order to develop their abilities in combating poverty, and unemployment. By linking women's economic empowerment to her work in the rural areas, women are given a chance to join the productive work, of which they earn a decent income to help them cope with the difficulties of their lives.

The coordinator of the supreme council for charity Mrs. Suhair Abou Taka touched upon the importance of emphasizing the concept of gender in the fields of work and economic development. These two major pillars for development, she said, are necessary to strengthen women's participation in all aspects of life based on gender equality, and to provide equal socioeconomic opportunities, and ultimately reinforce their just cause.

The PWWSD and the UNDP sign Women Access to Law Project

                                                         

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development at its headquarters in Ramallah signed an agreement of a project with the UNDP under the name Access to Law. The 100 thousand dollar contract aims to promote and advocate women right of access to law, and to achieve women legal empowerment, by providing legal support to them, legal consultations, trainings and educational workshops. It will also defend women before the courts of law, in cases of violation or harassment. The general director of the PWWSD Mrs. Amal Khreishe, and the UNDP’s representative Mrs. Janet Lundberg signed the contract, as the project is expected to start on June and last for one year. The project will implemented in the West Bank, and it targets working women, leading women, experienced lawyers and women in general.

A Victory to Palestinian Women and Their Rights!

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development acknowledges the president's decision to overturn article (240) from the Palestinian penalties law (16), which governs the northern governances, and amend article (18) from the law (74) by adding the statement: "excluding honor based killings, so as not to allow murderers to escape punishment in cases of wrong interpretation." The organization sees in this decision a step closer to social justice and the activation of the civil law. The law comes in accordance with the building of a modern society based on gender equality and the protection of women's rights. It is an introduction to coming amendments in the penalties law and the personal status law, aiming to protect the family and women.

The organization stated that the amendments correspond to the efforts of the feminist movement and the different legal organization, including the PWWSD, which demanded in its annual campaign to combat violence against women, to make amendments on the penalties law which governs the OPT. The organization addressed the Palestinian president with memorandum, urging him to suspend the articles which give lenient sentences in cases of honor killing. It also demanded the development of a Palestinian penalties law which complies with the needs of the Palestinian society. Over 8000 citizens signed on the petition, including important political and academic figures, and civil society organizations.

Moreover, the organization touched upon the escalating honor based murders which still threaten the stability of the Palestinian Society, concluded with the atrocious murder of Aya Barath'eye in Sourif – Hebron. Therefore the PWWSD demands changes in the Palestinian personal status law, in accordance with international laws and conventions concerning women's rights.  

Governmental and Nongovernmental organizations: the Urgency of a Palestinian Penalties Law

Numerous feminist non-governmental and human rights organizations called for amendments to the Palestinian penalties law. In the meeting organized by the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development, in the name of the Al-Muntada to Combat Violence against Women, on the murder Aya Barath'eye, they accentuated the urgency for the Palestinian National Authority to exert policies and take measures in order to protect women against violence, and honor based killing.

Moreover, the participating organizations welcome the president's decision to suspend and overturn some of the articles in the applicable penalties law which governs the OPT. However, the current penal code remains problematic, as it still has flaws which encourage honor based killing, and family crimes in general. 

After discussing the importance of the issuance of a Palestinian law, the participants agreed on the urgency to raise the social awareness on the issue of violence against women, and called for an adoption of effective policies to protect violated and oppressed women. Due to the atrocious crime committed against Aya Barath'eye, the participants reached at a number of suggestions and recommendations:

The need to formulate a memorandum which demands the development of a modern Palestinian penalties law, and to collect the largest number of signatures possible, in order to hand the memo to the Palestinian president in a rally which will be organized soon. In addition, statements were sent to different news agencies, in order to tackle this issue in their current and future programs, since media is one of the most effective tools for lobbying, advocacy and change. A statement was also sent to the Ministry of Wakfs, to demand the promotion of the issue in the Friday speeches for the coming three weeks. 

The participants, in the meeting which was held at the PWWSD's office in Ramallah, expressed their gratitude to Falastine TV, for exploring the case of Aya Barath'eye, resulting in influential debates in the Palestinian society. They requested a rebroadcasting of the "Haki Al Makshouf" episode, which tackled the issue, as well as other similar episodes that addressed the issue of violence against women. 

On his part, Al-Muntada to Combat Violence against Women confirmed that women killings are unjustifiable and what Aya Barath'eye has suffered is a dangerous premeditated crime, and that her killers must be brought to justice, and sentenced with strict punishments, as their relationship with the victim should be the reason for a sever punishment and not a way to escape punishment.