On the Eve of the International Day to Combat Violence, PWWSD calls to join Efforts to eliminate Violence against Women

Each year, the 25^th of November marks the International Day to combat Violence against Women. In 1999, the UN General Assembly called for an annual observance of this day, to contribute to combating violence against women around the world. The UN called upon governments and international and non-governmental organizations to raise awareness about this phenomenon.

This day arrives as Palestinian women continue to suffer from violence from several sources; the Israeli occupation, thus violating Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law and preventing women from accessing their rights under the law, in addition to the domestic violence practiced against women by their Palestinian husbands, brothers, fathers, cousins as a part of the structuralized violence and discrimination imposed by the patriarchal society structure.

In commemoration of this day PWWSD calls upon all  governmental and human rights organizations to join efforts and lobby in favor of developing modern laws in the Palestinian society, which meet women’s demands and combat their violation.  In addition, PWWSD demands to suspend the current outdated laws which legitimize violence against women, both directly and indirectly. The organization reaffirms the importance of the presidential decree issued by president Mahmoud Abbas to overturn the two articles regarding “the legitimate and diluted excuses” which avoid men high sentences or even punishment for killing women.  Despite this important step taken by the president to punish femicide perpetrators, PWWSD considers it insufficient, was it not followed by more decrees and legalizations to criminalize violence against women.

PWWSD points out that Palestinian woman still suffer from fatal violations of their right to life: their right to life which is sacred in all religions, and firmly established by international law and human right conventions. The right to life is also protected by the Palestinian Basic Law 2003; though a number of Palestinian women are killed each year due to the so-called “honour killing”. PWWSD adds that the law system applied in the West Bank and Gaza, respectively Jordanian and Egyptian law, protects the perpetrators rather than the women and serves diluted sentences which save them from punishment. Though femicide is illegal under international law, the existing system of overlapping law system in Palestine provides legislative cover for the criminals in addition to granting them social respect.

The organization calls upon the Palestinian president Mr. Mahmoud Abbas to issue decrees in favor of women, in order to protect their right to life. It also asks the president to state legislations that would protect the Palestinians’ dignity, and help reunite them to finally achieve a Palestinian-Palestinian agreement. A united Palestine is imperative and necessary in order to develop and implement laws and legislation that would meet the demands of all segments of the Palestinian society.

To commemorate this day, the PWWSD will organize a number of activities to highlight to issue of combating violence against women; including workshops, educational seminars, and graffiti that reflect women’s issues, including their rights to inheritance and property. PWWSD will also organize a day of solidarity in the Al- Nabi Saleh, one of the villages that are affected by the Israeli Segregation Wall, to support the women in that village to fight against the Israeli war machine and colonization.

The general director of the PWWSD Mrs. Amal Khreishe stated that Palestinian women face different forms of violence and oppression. On one hand, they stagger under the patriarchal fist which deprives them their right to equally participate in the public life alongside with men, despite their competence and education. The patriarchal mentality also divests them their right to inheritance and property, and consequently to a decent economic and social status. On the other hand, Palestinian women suffer from the Israeli occupation which strives to vanquish women, and confiscate their lives. Khreishe confirmed that the PWWSD, through its offices in the West Bank and Gaza is committed to exert more programs, empowerment, social and counseling activities, in order to help women stand strong, to contribute in building a democratic Palestinian society that is based on social justice and gender equality.