PWWSD organizes Discussion to develop Social Protection Policies for Violated Women

The counseling program in Nablus organized the open-panel “Developing Social Protection Policies for Violated Women”, in cooperation with the Psycho-social counseling project in Nablus municipality, and funded by the UNFPA.

The civic educator Futna Khalifeh moderated the session, which featured the minister of social affairs Mrs. Majida Al-Massri, the head of Nablus municipality Mr. Adli Yaeesh, the legal consultant for Nablus governance Mrs. Lina Abdelhadi, and Suhad Abdellatif from PWWSD and the Forum to Combat Violence against Women. The panel aimed to shed light on the social protection policies for women, and discuss the applied procedures to protect women from violence. The speakers also talked about the latest development regarding the reference system in Palestine, and also answered some questions on social protection, its importance and the role that the government plays to protect violated women.

The Minister of social affairs elaborated on the government’s role to combat violence, and develop social protection policies. She stressed that the ministry of Social Affairs has developed strategies regarding social protection policies, in cooperation with NGOs and governmental organizations. The government has developed a national strategy to combat violence against women, which indicates that this issue is a priority.   Al- Massri also talked about the applied laws in Palestine, and the political environment, as she hoped we would witness and end to the internal division soon. She also hoped that the PLC would function again, in order to create the appropriate environment for combating violence.

On his part, Mr. Adli Yaeesh, the head of Nablus’ municipality said that the dominant patriarchal mentality contributes to the increasing violence against women. He stressed the role of the family in educating individuals, particularly men about this the dangers of oppressing women and their adverse implications on the family structure.

Lina Abdelhadi, the legal consultant for the Nablus district addressed what she called a disorganized revolution in women’s conditions across Palestine. She stressed the need to develop modern laws that meet women’s demands and protect them, like new penalties and family protection laws.

By the end of the workshop, the attendees recommended allocating budgets to rehabilitate this segment of women, and to establish new protection strategies to save them. They also recommended applying the reference system in the concerned organizations.