Gender Forum recommends Increasing Women’s Role in Political Parties

Many official and feminist organizations called for increasing and promoting women’s role and participation in the political parties and circles, in order to reflect the actual force of women in the Palestinian society. Participants of a workshop that was organized by the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Governance in Al-Bireh stressed the need to develop a set of procedures that should encourage coordination between the civil society organizations and the official bodies operating on gender, therefore, to assure the integration of similar work. They also accentuated the need to elect a feminist leadership which would qualify into the decision-making circles. In addition, participants urged more organizations, activists and former members of local authorities to join the Gender Forum, for it is not exclusive to certain organizations and figures. They highlighted the necessary steps to develop a national plan, to be verified by all organizations, even those who have not participated in the workshop, in order to strengthen the coordination and follow-up between the civil society organizations and the Ministry of Local Governance. 

Mrs. Amal Khreishe, the general director of the PWWSD stated: “the issue is not only to increase women’s participation in the local authorities, but it is also connected to the September Claim at the UN, and the vital role women could play in a civil Palestinian state where women’s rights and actual participation are protected by the constitution”. Khreishe urged the official and specialized organizations to prioritize within their strategies the issue of women’s participation in such fateful issues. 

On his behalf, the deputy of the Ministry of Local Governance Mr. Mazen Ghnaim said: “we demand a guaranteed support for women’s participation in the Palestinian life. Regarding women’s participation in the local authorities, the ministry has taken many strategic steps, through its gender unit, in order to protect women’s rights and fulfill their needs”. Ghnaim also pointed out that a conclusive evaluation is being held, to assure a larger participation of women in the upcoming local elections.

The deputy confirmed that the election is a national and legal obligation on the road of an effective role to the municipalities and the local authorities that serve the residents. He said: “we hope to have a just and effective participation for women in replacement of the quota system” hinting that the fault is not in the laws but in the patriarchal system and the political parties’ structure.

General Director of the gender unit at the Ministry of Local Governance Mrs. Hanan Mseih invited all organizations to adopt electoral campaign programs for the women who intend to run for the upcoming local authorities’ elections. Mseih stressed the importance for women to unite, in order to strengthen their role in the local society, hinting that the gender unit aims to spread awareness on gender issues in society, thus activate justice and law in replacement of tribalism.