PWWD conducts Workshop within Inheritance Denied Project and concludes Children Summer Camp in Gaza

Jenin – Gaza: the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development conducted a workshop in Jenin, at Burqin’s women’s society, within the Inheritance Denied Project.  Jenin’s mufti mrs. Mohammed Abu Roub, Dalal Ateeq, the director of Burqin’s women’s society and Hachim Ateeq, the principal of the village’s high school participated in the session, alongside a crowd of committed women.

Mufti Abu Roub talked about the legitimate right to inheritance for both the woman and the man, and the necessity to give women their full share of inheritance in order to create an economic and social balance in society. Abu Roub encouraged women to seek their rights to inheritance, without fear or shame of their family or society, emphasizing women’s economic independence in Islam.  He acknowledged at the end of the workshop the modifications to the personal status law, which accentuate the registration and calculation of the inheritance within a limited period of time, as he encouraged women to take their shares, and not to forsake them until after they know the actual amount.  

In another topic, PWWSD concluded its first summer camp in Gaza, which engaged 60 girls and boys from different areas across the Strip. The camp featured entertainment and briefing activities, including swimming, singing, and field trips, under the supervision of a number of civic educators.

Many children expressed their happiness and willingness to participate in the camp which took place during the summer holiday, after a long school year. The 13^th year old Youssef Daher expressed his admiration and joy from the camp, saying that he enjoyed swimming, singing and playing. The camp allowed Youssef the chance to release his thoughts and ideas, and build his skills and talents. He hoped there would be another camp, so that his friends would have the opportunity to participate and enjoy their time as he did.

Finally, both the children and their parents thanked PWWSD and the educators for organizing the camp.  

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development organizes a Workshop on the Importance of Women’s Political Participation

Gaza: the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development organized a workshop at the Association of Women Committees for Social Work in Gaza under the name “Women and the Political Participation”. Tens of feminist activists, housewives and representatives of the political parties attended.

The civic educator at the PWWSD Hanan Siam spoke about the history of Palestinian women’s political participation since the 20s of last century, to the first Intifada in 1987, and the second Intifada in 2000. She also talked about the types of political participation represented in the legislative elections, which led many women to the legislative council.

Siam also talked about the “quota”, which came as a result of the feminist movement’s efforts, which has empowered women, and increased their ability to compete and hold critical positions like men.

The participants expressed their own understanding of political participation, which is not excluded to legislative elections, and nominating the legislative council members, as it also includes accountability. Whereas other women shared their experience at home where they are involved in the decision making process within their families.

During the workshop, women candidates shared their experiences in the legislative council elections in 1996, which they described as a total failure because it hasn’t achieved any social change as aspired. None of the candidates had fulfilled their promises or electoral campaigns. In 2006, women have acquired political and electoral awareness which helped them through their second electoral journey, despite the repetitive failures and disappointments.

Participants expressed their will and need to exert more workshops and awareness campaigns, especially on political participation, in order to empower and strengthen their role in society, through knowing their rights. 

PWWSD organizes Films Screening on Women’s Rights and Women’s Conditions in Israeli Prisons

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development organized screenings for the films: “We Want to Talk, Wes We Can, Herbal Butterflies, and Another Legacy” in the organization’s headquarters, the feminist center in Balata refugee camp, and the municipal center in Beit Fourik, where 130 women attended to watch the films.

After the films, participants discussed several issues, specifically the conditions of women in the Israeli prisons, and the violations that are committed against women and their rights including the political and social violence, and the psychological traumas resulting from the constant torture. The participants discussed the society’s view of women prisoners and the role of the all organizations in supporting and rehabilitating those women. They also talked about the forms of violence exercised against the Palestinian women prisoners by the Israeli authorities including the solitary confinement, the ban of family visits, and the psychological torture.

The participants accentuated at the end of every screening the importance of sharing the experiences and stories of women prisoners in the local media channels, in order to shed the light on their suffering, and to expose the Israeli violations. In addition, the participants also called upon the Palestinian government to dedicate special budgets for women in order to enhance their capacities and achieve their empowerment on the long-term.

On another level, the civic education program at the PWWSD in Tulkarem conducted many educational workshops in Kufur Zibad, Anabta, Nour Shams refugee camp, on the dangers of early marriage.

The civic educator Ashwak Omer talked in the workshops on early marriage, the dangers of early marriage on girls and women, saying it deprives girls the right to education, and the right to be protected from physical violence. It also deprives women from enjoying their adolescence. Ashwak also discussed the adverse social norms which encourage early marriage. In the end of the workshops participants received educational brochures on early marriage and its adverse social and physiological effects.  

PWWSD in Nablus presents its Latest Play “Heyye Hek: She is Herself"

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development presented an experimental show for “heyye hek”, a play which was finalized after 5 months of constant work and rehearsal. Critics, authors and researchers shared their observations and admiration of the plot-line of the play, which tackles the issues of the patriarchal system, oppression and injustice women encounter due to man’s control of all family members, and his exclusion of their opinions.

The 45-minute play is written by the civic educator in the youth center at the PWWSD Mayssara Suhoh, and directed the author Taher Baakir. 5 young students from Al-Najah and The-Opened universities participated in acting, as they were volunteers in the youth center at the organization.

According to Mayssara Suboh, the idea of the play was developed in cooperation with a group of young students, 17 of which were trained for the play, but it only 5 were involved in the acting.

On his side, director Tahar Bakeer talked about social, women’s and children’s issues, elaborating on the issue of the last son who is usually “spoiled rotten”, and the problem of the “oppressed girl”. He also emphasized the issue of social hypocrisy, of how a man enfolds two personalities, which are reflected in his self-treatment and the way he treats his sons and his daughters at home. This adversely affects the family unity and coherence, in an atmosphere void from dialogue and understanding. In such environment women usually are dehumanized, degraded and devalued to an extent that they become a furniture accessory.

Ima’s Hannani, the student at Al-Najah University, who played the role of the mother said: “the play tackles several social issues including the relationship between men and women and their children, as it reflects the PWWSD’s vision to combat violence, discrimination and marginalization of women. In parallel with the organization’s efforts, it aims empower and strengthen women in all aspects of life.”

The play aims to urge the responsible parties to apply modern family laws, and strive to achieve social justice and gender equality, as well as to boost the legal age allowed to marry daughters.

Majdi Khatatba, the student at the Opened University, who played the role of the father, said that the play touches upon the issue of oppression in the family, caused by man’s solo decisions, as it also touches upon other issues like early marriage, unemployment and girls’ right to higher education

The PWWSD organized a Study Circle on VAW and “Trafficking”

s

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development organized a study circle in Tulkarem, in cooperation with the Swedish foundation Kvinna till Kvinna. The participants accentuated the need to join efforts to overturn the dominant patriarchal traditions in the Palestinian society, which degrade women, and undermine their roles. They also emphasized that women’s case refers to gender equality in rights and duties; that both women and men build their societies, and therefore women issues concern all segments of society.

The representatives of the human rights organizations, governmental and NGOs, called for networking and cooperation, through a focus group, or a processing room, which will exert social mobilization to pressure the governmental and the private sector organizations. In addition, the focus group will train and build the capacities of specialists, to change and develop the educational curricula. The participants also highlighted the necessity to engage the local media in the action, to shed light on the critical feminist issues related to violence and oppression, which extend to women trafficking, and the exploitation of their dignity and humanity.

The representative of Kvinna till Kvinna foundation spoke about violence as an international phenomenon practiced against emigrant women and men. Sometimes decent job opportunities are offered to women that require travelling and living abroad. However, women discover different job environments than described in the contracts after they travel, which is considered a violation of human rights based on deceit. Deceiving women and transferring them to other countries place them under great dangers, where sometimes they are trapped in closed areas, and banned from travelling back to their countries. This widespread phenomenon is prosecuted in Paraguay and Sweden. The representative added that violence is widely practiced within the Palestinian family block, and that the only solution for domestic violence is the development of a deterring penalty system.

During the study circle which was moderated by lawyer Lina Abdelhadi, the legal consultant for the Nablus governance, many interventions emphasized the necessity to provide decent job offers for women. Participants also urged formal and private organizations to join efforts to combat VAW, discrimination and exploitation of women, through conducting educational workshops, and overturning the unjust legislations and laws. They also demanded the PA to issue a law to prevent women from working inside “the green-line” where they are exposed to exploitation and oppression.

Mrs. Amal Khreishe, the general director of the PWWSD, explored the entrepreneur role Palestinian women have played, and are still playing in the Palestinian struggle against the Israeli Occupation, as she called to enhance the cooperation and coordination between the concerned organizations in relation to the educational matter, in addition to improving the educational curricula. Khreishe touched upon the issue of honor, and the social tendency to relate it to women’s behaviors.

In addition, during the meeting, participants explored VAW and political trafficking, including what is called the honor killing, and the Israeli attempts to stain women’s honor by violating her body and sexuality, in order to use them as a “pressure tool”.

Nablus: The Workers Union for The Private Schools and Kindergarten declares Several Demands

The administrative board of the workers union for the private schools and kindergarten conducted several meetings in Nablus, in order to discuss their legal demands for women workers in the sector. The private sector according to the participants suffer from marginalization, particularly concerning counting the 3-month summer holiday, and setting a minimum rate for wages. Moreover, the participants discussed the possible measures to take in order to achieve and fulfill their demands, which are a priority to the union, taking into consideration that a memo was sent to the minister of labor Dr. Ahmad Majdalani, asking him to set a minimum rate for wages.

The meeting that was held in the headquarters of the PWWSD explored the difficulties and problems women workers encounter, as well as a work plan, and a set of activities and events  to be implemented, which aim to empower and build the capacities of working women.

The members of the administrative board discussed the dilemma caused when the workers sought another union in the sector, which, according to the administrative board, will adversely affect the demands of the workers as it only rummages their efforts and collective attempts. Hence, the union addressed the concerned parties with many letters, asking them to support the union in order to promote collaborative work and democracy.

The workers union for the private sector and kindergarten was established in Nablus in 2007, after it was registered in the Ministry of Labor, where two conferences were held to elect an administrative board. In the conferences the union presented its activities and administrative and financial reports, and it prepared for a third conference for the beginning of next year. The union in Nablus is considered part of the national workers union for the private sector and kindergarten in the OPT.

Belgian Solidarity

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development continues to receive solidarity groups from Belgium, in an attempt to bridge gaps between the international solidarity movement and the Palestinian reality on ground. The group of 25 activists arrived at the organization’s headquarters in Ramallah, and was introduced to the organization’s mission by the PR desk. Officer Anne-Claire and assistant Saba Nader welcome the group at Al –Zuwadeh restaurant, and presented a PowerPoint presentation of the PWWSD’s profile. Afterward, the group headed to the near-by village Sengil, where they met with women representatives of the village’s cooperative. After a quick Palestinian lunch, the activists visited some of the confiscated lands around the village, and were accompanied by women from Sengil, who explained about the confiscation attempts, the building of settlements on the land of the village, and the ongoing settlers’ attacks on the farmers.

The group left Ramallah to Nablus, to continue their journey and widen their experience about the Palestinian reality in particular, and the Palestinian – Israeli conflict in general; eventually to be the messengers of the Palestinian Cause into the world.

PWWSD presents the Film “Mahjouba” which touches upon Women’s Suffering in Society

The civic education program at the PWWSD in Tulkarem conducted an educational activity at Dir Ghousoun Municipality, which was attended by a group of women who joined to watch a 16-minute film called “Mahjouba”. The film touches upon the suffering of women in society. It is based on stories narrated by women, of their sufferings resulted from the deprivation of their basic human rights. The civic educator Ashwak Omer explored many issues raised in the film, including the issue of denying women their right of inheritance and property, in addition to the difficulties women encounter when claiming their legal and judiciary rights.

Moreover, the PWWSD organized several workshops at its headquarters in Ramallah, on the marital relationships, addressing a group of women from Bet Rima, and Al’Amari refugee camp. During these workshops counselor Khitam Zahran identified “containment” which refers in this case to how spouses should attract and accept each other, and adapt to each others’ moods and mentality. Afterward, the types of containment were discussed, including the mental containment, concerning dialogue, thoughts exchange and the discussions of the problems couple face for not listening to each other and not respecting each other’s opinions; the emotional containment, meaning that the wife should treat her husband the same way she longs to be treated, and vice versa, and that the spouses should cherish each other’s feelings. The ways of the containment were also touched upon in addition to the different ways of offering apology, that in cases of dispute one of the spouses should propose to end the argument. Sweet surprises are another way of keeping the relationship alive, as well as overlooking the insignificant details which may affect the relationship and ruin the martial bond.

The discussions also covered the reasons of a successful emotional containment, like trust, honesty, apology, and mutual respect which provide a comfortable environment for the children and the family in general.