PWWSD organizes two Workshops in Opened University in Bethlehem

Bethlehem, the psycho-social program at the Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development in Bethlehem conducted a meeting with a group of students from AlQuds Opened University. Civic educator Rula Shweiki talked about social responsibility young people have towards their society. She connected the issue of social responsibility with personal freedom, as she confirmed the imperative harmony between both. Shweiki pointed out that responsibility is tied to citizen’s obligations towards their society, as well as to community work, in order to achieve concrete development. The participants emphasized the need to involve young people in community and social work in order to build their personalities and teach them to take social responsibility towards their society.

The PWWSD organized an open-meeting with the trained students from AlQuds Opened University, who have attended training on women’s right to inheritance in Bethlehem University. Tens of students and academics attended the meeting, which focused on the issue of inheritance and its importance for women and men. Ibrahim Shaaer, the president of AlQuds Opened University, and civic educator Rula Shweiki talked about the issue of inheritance and the psychological and social effects women encounter when denied of this right. Cheikh Abdelmajid Ata talked the religious and judiciary aspects of the inheritance.

The film “AlMahjouba” was screened during the meeting.

PWWSD conducts Workshop on Effects of Sexual Assaults on Children

Tulkarem: The Psycho-social program at the Palestinian Working Women’s Society in cooperation with The Opened University in Tulkarem organized a session under the name:  The effects of sexual assaults on children.

Dr. Hussni Awad, lecturer at AlQuds Opened University emphasized the role of civil society organizations in training fresh students in psycho-social issues, and the possible ways of treating these problems. The students develop their advocacy and interpersonal skills both on the personal and professional level.  

Muthanna Abu Saa’, the supervisor of the familial consultation unit in the Ministry talked about the importance of the consultation unit in the intervention in the cases of sexual assault against children. “Measures are taken to protect children and save them. Some are referred to the Social Affairs unit in the ministry”.

Councilor Sherine Tahhan from the PWWSD talked about the physical, behavioral, psychological and emotional effects of sexual abuse against children. Tahhan indicated that society attends more to sexual assault against women because it is connected to women’s virginity and honor. She confirmed that male victims also suffer from the same effects after sexual harassment. She also emphasized the importance of sexual education and guidance, and the role of the media and its effects on children.

During the workshop, a film was screened on how to help children recover from sexual abuse.

Lawyer Elham Kharraz explored the legal aspect of sexual harassment against children. She talked about the consequent legal punishments, and how the law deals with sexual abuse against children. Kharraz emphasized the need to educate society about similar crimes, and the role of all organizations to pressure for a Palestinian penal code that criminalizes assaults against children.

In the end of the workshop, the participants recommended the inclusion of sexual education in the school curricula, and also the organization of educational workshops for parents and teachers, so that the problem does not evolve to a phenomenon.  

Opening of Anabta Cooperative will empower Women

Tulkarem: In cooperation with ACAD and CESVI; funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development opens Anaba Cooperative in Tulkarem. The cooperative was founded within project “Launching Micro-Credit Projects for Women”, which aim to promote women’s role in society, and provide sources of income for women in the city of Tulkarem.

Tulkarem faces difficult economic conditions, therefore the participants in the project strived to found Anabta Cooperative to promote and market women’s products and handicrafts.   

The foundation of Anabta Cooperative was the fruit of prolonged efforts put by the cooperative’s 29 members, with the support of the PWWSD, CESVI and ACAD. PWWSD’s coordinator in Tulkarem, and both of ACAD’s and CESVI’s general directors, in addition to the Representative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the need to continue to support similar projects, which assist in women’s empowerment.  

The cooperative was registered in January 2012 in the Cooperation Department in the Palestinian Ministry of Labor.

PWWSD organizes Workshop on Women’s Right to Inheritance in UN Women’s College

The Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development organized a workshop on Monday 21^st 2012 on women’s right to inheritance in the UN Women’s College in Al-Tireh. Tens of students attended the workshop, which was implemented under the Inheritance Denied Project. Project Inheritance Denied is being implemented in coordination with the DCA, the YMCA and WAC in Gaza and is funded by the EU.  

Civic educator Naela Oudeh and lawyer Fadwa Thweib talked about women’s right to inheritance and the feminist and legal aspects of this right. They also emphasized the importance of inheritance to empower women economically and promote their independence and social and economic statuses. Oudeh stressed the need to give women their shares of inheritance. She talked about PWWSD’s efforts to alter the stereotypical and negative image of women and their rights. Oudeh pointed out the statistics published in relation to the issue of inheritance, which indicate that women are the poorest segment in society. Naela clarified that depriving women of their rights or forcing them to concede cause many social problems and affects civil peace.

Palestinian Hunger Strikers in ‘Immediate Danger of Death’

The Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development would like to express its extreme concern regarding the fate of over 1500 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons.

Two men, Bilal Diyab and Tha’er Halahla, are currently in immediate danger of death following their 73^rd day of hunger strike against the Israeli government practice of administrative detention. Under administrative detention, detainees can be held by the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) in Israeli prisons for 3 months at a time without charge or trial, and with indefinite renewal of the detention after 3 month periods.

On Monday the 7^th May the Israeli supreme court rejected appeals by the two men against their administrative detention, citing a need for further review of secret evidence held against them, as act  described as a ‘death sentence’ by Physicians for Human Rights. Both men attended the hearing in wheelchairs, being too weak to walk, while Mr. Diab was rushed out for medical treatment after fainting in the courtroom. Despite their critical conditions, and in spite of coming under prolonged pressure by the IPS to break their strikes, both men have refused.

Since March 2012, more than 1500 prisoners have joined Bilal Diyab and Tha’er Halahla in hunger strikes throughout Israeli prisons, protesting increasing restrictions of family and lawyer visitations, the practice of prolonged solitary confinement and deteriorating and continued inhumane treatment by the IPS. 8 prisoners are now said to be in critical condition.

Following noted silence by international bodies and media outlets regarding the status of the Palestinian hunger strikers, Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, on the 10^th of May issued a statement stressing “the importance of averting any further deterioration of their [the strikers] condition”. He went on to state that “those detained must be charged and face trial with judicial guarantees, or released without delay”.

The Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development, as an organization committed to the promotion of social justice and protection of human rights, condemns the practice of administrative detention of Palestinian citizens. It calls for the immediate charge or release of both Bilal Diyab and Tha’er Halahla, and for other administrative detainees being held indefinitely without charge. The PWWSD also condemns the practice of prolonged solitary confinement, and asks that family members, particularly those of prisoners from Gaza, be allowed visitation rights.

Amal Abu Sbeitan, Women’s Rights Activist on Solidarity Hunger Strike since 10 Days

Resilient Amal Abu Sbeitan (38 years old), a Palestinian human rights and women’s rights activist, has gone on hunger strike for 10 days in solidarity with Palestinian hunger strikers. Over 1600 Palestinian prisoners are hungerstriking since April 17th, for improved prison conditions. The prisoners are protesting against the brutal Israeli treatment, and collective punishments, which violate their human rights, protected under the IHL and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

From her house in Deir Al Balah refugee camp in Gaza, Mrs. Abu Sbeitan, who is a mother of three, declared her hunger strike, and is constantly participating in the sit-ins, protests and demonstrations in solidarity with the prisoners. She is the first woman to go on hunger strike, and was followed by many others who joined to support the prisoners’ just cause.

Abu Sbeitan explains that her idea to hunger strike came as a response to the deafening international silence, and the scarce national mobilization. She stated that only tens of people participate in the demonstrations, and few are present at the solidarity tents. Ironically, hundreds gather on the nights of the Spanish Classico to support their favorite football teams.

Abu Sbeitan has also launched a page on Facebook to support the prisoners. She highlighted the case of prisoner Mahmoud Sursuk, a football player in Palestine’s National team, who has been in prison since 3 years and is on hunger strike since 41 days. She stressed the importance of the internet to mobilize international supporters to the prisoners’ issue. Abu Sbeitan confirmed that she would hungerstrike until her body fails. She called upon all international organization saying: Israel spent millions for one prisoner: Shalit. We have thousands of prisoners, unrecognized, unknown. We have to take their cause into the international arena, to tell their story to the world, especially through western media.

PWWSD launches Women’s Right to Residence Campaign

In cooperation with the UNDP, the Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development launched campaign “Women’s Right to Residence after Divorce”. The campaign aims to protect divorced women’s right to residence, and most importantly their dignity and right to decent living. The organization called upon governmental organizations to fulfill their obligations towards women’s right to residence, and to adopt a just personal status law, which grants women their right to residence and custody of young children. 

The PWWSD called upon the chief justice Mr. Id’es to establish a specialized unit within the Charia Court, whose responsibility is to ensure the implementation of the orders passed by the Court. The organization also urged the chief justice to impose a financial penalty to be paid to the divorced women, in order to finance their new residence and life expenses. If husbands refrain, they must be obliged to provide a residence for their divorced wives and children, until a progressive modern personal status is law is adopted.   

PWWSD called for more lectures and educational activities about women’s rights to residence and inheritance, which address both women and men, through civil society institutions including mosques, and the media. PWWSD asked for the prosecution of anyone who forces women to concede her share of inheritance, or any of her rights, particularly her financial rights. The organization called upon the Palestinian government to adopt a crediting strategy for divorced women; the banks to give loans to divorced women, repaid by women in payments equal to the amount of money they received from their divorced husbands.

PWWSD explained that Palestinian women face social, economic, legal and cultural challenges, which violate their rights to inheritance and residence. Palestinian women are not protected by the Labor Law - article number 7, if they engage in informal family business.