1_March 2019, Ramallah – On the occasion of the International Women’s Day (8 March), a week-long joint campaign “My Rights, Our Power” was launched today in Palestine to raise awareness on women’s fundamental human rights. The joint effort, with participation from over 30 national and international partners from civil society organizations, media outlets, and international development agencies, targets youth, women, and men in various geographic areas in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza to promote women’s human rights in Palestine.

The campaign comes at a crucial moment when the anticipated adoption of the Family Protection Bill is at a standstill, raising concerns among national and international stakeholders about the consequences of such delay on safeguarding women’s fundamental human rights in Palestine. According to the Palestine report of the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), nearly one in five Palestinian men (17 percent) surveyed said they had perpetrated act of physical intimate partner violence against female partners, while 21 per cent of women surveyed reported having experienced such violence.

“Family violence, usually committed by a family member who has social or economic power over others in the family, causes enormous pain and suffering to all members of the family, especially the women and children,” said a spokesperson from civil society, which has vigorously initiated the development of the Family Protection Bill (FPB), and has strongly pushed its adoption since 2004.

“The violation of women’s human rights manifests in various levels and should be also understood from economic, cultural, and social aspects,” the spokesperson added, highlighting the lack of opportunities and freedom of choice, as well as limited access to justice and services that women in Palestine still experience.

The joint campaign aims to raise awareness of the general public, especially youth, women, and men on women’s fundamental rights in line with international standards and embedded in the Family Protection Bill draft endorsed by the previous Cabinet at the end of December 2018. Five key messages, addressing women’s right to a life free of violence, right to achieve justice and seek help in case of violation of such life, as well as the right to equal opportunities and right to make one’s own choices, will be distributed through various channels such as radio, social media, helpline (121), outreach activities, and on-site events. The closing event of the joint campaign will take place on 8 March in Jerusalem and will celebrate women’s achievements using TED-style talks, followed by art performances.

“My Rights, Our Power” joint campaign is part of the global International Women’s Day 2019 campaign under the theme of “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”. The theme focuses on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure, echoing the theme of the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 63) taking place in New York on 11-22 March 2019.

The participating organizations of the “My Rights, Our Power” are (in alphabetical order): 17 Palestinian women’s organizations represented by Al-Muntada (coalition), British Consulate-General, Business Women Forum, CARE International, Consulate General of Sweden, Consulate General of Belgium, EUPOL COPPS, EU Representative Office, FAO, General Union of Palestinian Women, Government of Japan, CowaterSogema/GROW Project, International Labour Organization, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Ma’an TV, MIFTAH, Netherlands Representative Office, Nisaa FM, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development, Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association, Representative Office of Canada, Representative Office of Denmark, SAWA, Sawasya II, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Sports for Life, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Representative Office of Norway, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UN Women, Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling, Women’s Studies Center.

For more information, please contact Eunjin Jeong at UN Women via eunjin.jeong@unwomen.org or 059 2321 308, Majd Beltaji at UNESCO via m.beltaji@unesco.org or 059 4501 506.

Mr. President,

We thank France for organizing this important meeting and extend our appreciation to the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary General, the Executive Director of UN Women, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and the Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie for their efforts and important briefings.

The issue before us is of relevance not only for half the planet, but to all, given the role and contribution of women in the fields of peace and security and the untapped potential that could be unleashed by mainstreaming their participation. Since the adoption by consensus of resolution 1325 by this Council, a lot has happened, and yet we are still far from the goal of full and equal participation, including in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, and from ensuring the protection and empowerment of women. Gender equality and non-discrimination remain prerequisites for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of this organization and all of our lofty, collective commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The State of Palestine welcomes the Secretary General’s report and his commitment to implementing the women and peace and security agenda, including by placing gender at the centre of his prevention platform and surge in diplomacy. We appreciate all efforts by the UN in this regard, including by UN Women, OHCHR and UNDP, notably in the field of human rights, capacity building, employment and rule of law. We urge UN bodies, notably those operating in Palestine, including the Special Representative, to intensify their engagement and collaboration with women organizations.

Mr. President,

I wish to highlight some of Palestine’s own important efforts in this regard. The Palestinian women’s movement is one of the oldest and strongest in the region and beyond, with institutional and representative structures established as early as the 19th century. Within the PLO, the General Union of Palestinian Women was among the first unions to be established. A coordination of women frameworks within PLO political parties and other organizations has also been established as the “Women’s Affairs Technical Committee” in the aftermath of the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference.

There have been many achievements thereafter. Among them: In 2012, Palestine inaugurated a High-Level National Committee for the implementation of resolution 1325, led by the Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with relevant Ministries and NGOs. In 2016, the State of Palestine was among the 68 countries and areas that adopted a National Action Plan on women, peace and security.

This Action Plan (2017-2019), adopted by both the Government and civil society organizations, identifies three primary objectives: 1. ensuring protection for women and girls both domestically and in the face of the Israeli occupation; 2. ensuring accountability through national and international mechanisms, with a particular focus on crimes and violations committed by the occupation; and 3. furthering women’s political participation in decision making at the national and international level. The State of Palestine also joined core IHL and human rights instruments, including CEDAW, without reservations. Women’s participation and empowerment are also important and cross-cutting objectives in the context of the National Policy Agenda (2017-2022).

We are, however, conscious that, despite all these efforts, much more work remains to be done. Only in 2009 was a women elected to the highest executive body of the PLO. Quotas are still decisive in allowing women’s election to Parliament and local councils. And while women organizations were among the strongest advocates of national reconciliation, they have been unfairly absent from reconciliation talks. The relevant legislative framework applicable in Palestine is also outdated and must be revised to ensure consistency with Palestine’s international commitments and obligations and avail women the protection and rights they are entitled to and the opportunities they deserve.

Mr. President,

The Palestinian women’s movement since its establishment over a century ago pursued the struggle on two fronts – the struggle for the independence of Palestine and the struggle for women’s rights and empowerment – a dual struggle the movement continues to pursue to this day. The Israeli occupation remains the main source of the violations of our women’s rights and their vulnerability and violence against their person. We have repeatedly called for protection of the Palestinian people, especially women and children. We have also called for accountability, a key element of resolution 1325, the first resolution to address the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women, as the only way to put an end to violations and crimes.

While Palestine stands ready to do its part to advance women rights and the role of women in the fields of peace and security, it is clear that the enjoyment of these rights in our country necessitates ending the Israeli occupation. We will thus continue to work for an end of the occupation and true progress on the path to independence, justice and peace, with the equal and full involvement of women, leading to an independent State of Palestine ensuring human rights for all its citizens without discrimination.

On the occasion of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to Palestine, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325, which consists of twelve different Palestinian women’s organisations, is urging the Prosecutor’s Office to take concrete actions towards investigating war crimes committed against Palestinians. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom remains deeply concerned with the complete impunity of Israeli war crimes and firmly supports the Coalition’s call for a just accountability mechanism for Palestinian victims. WILPF also calls on the international community to recognise and fully support Palestinian women’s organisations substantial role in paving the paths to justice, accountability and peace. Read the statement of the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325 below.

We, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325,welcome the visit of the delegation of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office as a step in the right direction. But we are deeply disappointed that the purpose of this visit was restricted to preliminary examination, while Palestinian victims of Israeli war crimes, including women, continue to suffer and urgently await justice and an end to Israel impunity.

We do not understand the decision to exclude the Gaza Strip from this visit, when Gaza has been the site of the most war crimes and where women have been most systematically impacted by Israeli collective punishment policies; a prolonged imposed siege and a severe humanitarian deterioration resulting from Israeli military aggressions .

We are further disappointed that women who have been systematically impacted, and their women’s organisations, have been excluded from the delegation’s agenda.

We call upon all future delegations of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to include on their agenda meetings with women’s organisations and women who have experienced direct and indirect impacts of Israeli crimes.

We, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325, have seen in UNSCR 1325, 2242, and other UN Resolutions a commitment to hold the Israeli perpetrators accountable for their war crimes.

We look to the ICC as the most important mechanism to end impunity for all war crimes committed, finally bringing justice for the Palestinian people. Yet, we are very concerned that the preliminary examinations will be an endless process.

Therefore, we urge, Ms. Fatou Bensouda, the Prosecutor of the ICC, to conclude the preliminary examination and move to investigations into Israeli war crimes, bringing justice to Palestinians.

We have paid the price of non-accountability and impunity of Israeli war crimes for too long. “Delaying justice is justice denied.”

Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325: The General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), the Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC), Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD), MIFTAH, Filastinyat, Women Media and Development (TAM), Women Stu Dies Center, Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling (WACLAC), the National, YWCA of Palestine, Center for Women’s Legal Research and Consulting (CWLRC), the Culture and Free thought Association(CWLRC) and Women’s Affairs Center (GWAC).

Occupied Palestine

October 11, 2016

(Names of member organizations at the end of statement)

Since its creation in 2006, member states of the Human Rights Council (HRC) have passed fifty-seven resolutions condemning human rights violations of Palestinians and requiring immediate and urgent action from the State of Israel. It has also established a number of independent inquiries or fact-finding missions to investigate abuses, including extreme military actions, committed by Israel against the people whose territory it occupies.

Nonetheless, even as the HRC notes and condemns on-going human rights violations and acknowledges the deteriorating situation in the Occupied State of Palestine particularly in besieged Gaza, there has been no corresponding translation into real obligations by member states to ensure that Israel, the occupying power, is held accountable for these violations. As a result, the HRC has done nothing to prevent further abuses and consistently fails to protect the Palestinian people.

The recent Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory released 22 January 2015 offers a strong statement about the effects of Israel’s human rights violations on the Palestinian people, making specific mention of the impacts of the 50-day 2014 Israeli wide scale military offensive, “Operation Protective Edge”, against besieged Gaza. UN figures indicate that 551 children and 299 women are among those who were killed in this military offensive or, as the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights concludes, 7 in 10, or 76% of victims, were civilians. While these numbers speak volumes about the scale of the devastation and the enormous price paid by civilians, even these numbers cannot do justice to the intensity of human suffering or reveal how the conflict post trauma, will continue to impact on Palestinians, specially women and children, both those living in Gaza and outside the Strip – for months and years to come.

The specifically gendered impacts of the on-going conflict have received little public attention. Palestinian women’s organizations remain a lone voice arguing that women’s experiences of daily insecurity – whether in their families or in the public sphere – qualify them to bring a different analysis, discourse and set of solutions.

Women’s organisations are also among the few who remind the international community that human rights are not selective: they apply to all people at all times regardless of nationality, race, religion or gender and must be applied without discrimination or prejudice, especially given the extreme vulnerability of a people displaced and controlled through prolonged military occupation. The images that were seen around the world almost a year ago showed the full impacts of the destruction in Gaza on ordinary civilians, particularly on women. Hundreds of thousands around the globe stood in solidarity with Palestinians, demonstrating and calling on their governments to take action to protect the population of Gaza. They expected a full response from the member states gathered here today. Yet their hopes for justice have not been met.

To date it is clear that exigencies of political and economic allegiance have overridden human rights obligations in the HRC some of the positions adopted here seek to justify violence, further to justify or protect the impunity of Israel. Member states are effectively doing nothing– either to prevent the conflict from deepening even further, or to take concrete measures of accountability that will save lives.

While pursuing its policy of denying full and free access to the Commission of Inquiry as to other human rights mandates established by the Council and violating its duty and responsibility as a member state to respect and protect human rights, Israel, in its report “The 2014 Gaza Conflict: Factual and Legal Aspects”, released on Sunday June 14th, abrogates its responsibilities as a UN Member State, excusing its military for committing war crimes and defending its continuous violation of international law. The report seeks to maintain Israel’s apparent impunity from prosecution and is intended to pre-empt any independent investigation that would lead to sanctions or any other effective response. Its goal is to discredit and undermine the findings of the Commission of Inquiry report on Gaza even before it is officially released.

Obligations to implement WPS agenda

It is the collective responsibility of the international community to ensure women’s protection and security in accordance with UNSCR 1325, 2122 and CEDAW GR30, to take seriously what women advise and to act on the new ideas and observations they present. Yet nothing has changed on the ground. As Palestinian women have repeatedly observed, this inaction marks yet another set of broken promises and failed assurances. It seems to indicate that this Council is not capable of producing the political will necessary to uphold and protect universal human rights without bias.

Intent, once more, on reminding this Council of its obligations, Palestinian women national coalition reiterate the recommendations they made at the 26th session of the Human Rights Council. They remain firm in their position that the mind-set of the member states of this Council must change, and that all the necessary means and available mechanisms to address on-going human rights violations – as a collective responsibility of the States gathered here today – must be brought to put an end to Israel impunity and ensure ways and means to protect civilians.

Member states have the duty to guaranty the fulfilment of Palestinian human rights including their right to freedom and self-determination by bringing an end to the military occupation of Palestine and the unceasing violence with which it is maintained and deepened. Continued failure to act will only increase extremism, violence and insecurity in the occupied State of Palestine, Israel and in neighbouring countries, including those that have harboured Palestinian refugees for decades and are under increasing strain to maintain their protection of the world’s oldest refugee population. This Council has the mandate, and must produce the political will, to act decisively, to end Israeli impunity, to safeguard Palestinians, and to signal to the world that upholding human rights brings hope and human security.

Recommendations

• The only way to achieve sustainable peace and security is for Israel, the occupying Power, to end its prolonged occupation, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. We, the Palestinian women organizations of the National Coalition, urge member states to use all necessary efforts to ensure the ending of the Occupation, including the provision of immediate international protection for all civilian population in the Occupied State of Palestine.

• High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention affirmed in their declaration of 17 December 2014 that “no violation of international humanitarian law by any party to a conflict can relieve the other party from its own obligations under international humanitarian law”. All members of the international community must take immediate action and implement effective punitive measures in order to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law. Legal accountability must be sought including through the International Criminal Court. We urge the Government of Switzerland and contracting parties, to ensure convening a Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention without further delay to take adequate measures to insure Israel’s obedience to the Fourth Convention and First Additional Protocol,.

• We perceive recommendations of the Independent, International Commission of Inquiry, as an additional step towards accountability of the Israeli violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied State of Palestine. We, the national Palestinian women coalition call on all member states of the Human Rights Council to ensure that the findings of the Commission form a base for developing immediate concrete adequate accountability measures to prevent the recurrence of Israeli crimes and provide justice for Palestinian victims

• As the situation in Gaza worsens, with fully 70% of the population now entirely dependent on humanitarian aid, we Palestinian women reiterate our concern that the situation will deteriorate further. The international community must sanction Israel for continuing to violate humanitarian law by refusing to lift the ongoing siege on Gaza and for pursuing its policies of demolitions of houses, evictions, expanding settlements and forcible transfer of Palestinian community in West Bank and East Jerusalem and ensure the rights of mobility, free access and movement from and to Occupied Palestinian territory for people and goods.

• We call for accountability for arbitrary detention and the ill treatment of detainees notably children and women.

• We, urgently call on the international community to ensure women’s protection and security in accordance with UNSR 1325, 2122 and CEDAW GR30.

• We, call upon the United Nations Member States and the Human Rights Council to ensure immediate action for reconstruction in Gaza, to hold Israel accountable for the destruction and to guarantee the prevention of any further destruction perpetrated by the occupying power. Israel must compensate all those who are affected. In the process of reconstruction, the international community should see to it that Israel would not profit from the reconstruction operation in any way. We also urgently call for the consultation and inclusiveness of women and a holistic gender perspective the reconstruction process.

• We, the Palestinian women organizations, urge the Human Rights Council to support and hold a special session on the human rights situation of Palestinian women both under occupation and in refugee camps

Name of women organizations:
The General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW). The Women’s Affairs technical committee (WATC), Palestinian Working Woman Society for development (PWWSD), The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH), Filastinyat, Women Media and development (TAM) , Women Stu dies center, Women’s Center for legal aid and counseling (WACLAC) The National, YWCA of-Palestine.

PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi said:

“Canada is indulging in political blackmail at the expense of our civil society institutions.”

These remarks were issued in response to the Canadian Government’s decision to terminate a contribution agreement it had between MIFTAH and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

The project was terminated shortly following Dr. Ashrawi’s response to Canadian Prime Minister John Baird’s insistence that the Palestinians are making a ‘huge mistake’ by going to the ICC by stating that ‘the huge mistake is allowing Israel to persist in its violations and war crimes… Israel is enabled by apologists like John Baird to persist with the support of self-appointed advocates who become complicit in these war crimes.’

The Representative Office of Canada had requested that Dr. Ashrawi accompany the Canadian Representative on a visit to the project, and later, she was asked to write a letter expressing gratitude for this specific Canadian project.

As Head of the Board of Directors, Dr. Ashrawi has no executive authority nor has she ever issued such statements or carried out such visits in relation to Mifah’s projects.

Dr. Lily Feidy, as CEO of Miftah, is the proper address for all such responsibilities; however, the Canadian Representative Office insisted it should be done by Dr. Ashrawi herself.

In response, the project was suspended and the agreement terminated.

Dr. Ashrawi commented, “The Palestinians and their institutions are not up for sale, and should not be subjected to extortion.

Canada’s decision to end the cooperation agreement is a blatant attempt to extract political concessions in return for economic support for projects.”

Dr. Ashrawi issues political and policy statements as a member of the PLO Executive Committee, and in this capacity, her role is completely separate from her volunteer work in civil society organizations.

Ramallah- By invitation from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) in the Netherlands and Palestine, a Palestinian women’s delegation participated in a series of meetings held at the 27th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, between the 16th and 19th of September. The participating organizations included: The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy (MIFTAH), the Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC), the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD), Oxfam Novib-Netherlands, and Women for Women in Sweden.

The events brought together Palestinian delegates, international law experts, European Union representatives, the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The meetings highlighted the legal responsibility of the occupying power, as well as the obligations of member states in opposing recent war crimes in Gaza and ongoing human rights violations in Occupied Palestine. The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was also addressed in light of the aggressions of the 8th of July, with reference to obligations towards the protection and security of women, as well as their participation in peace negotiations to end the conflict.

By invitation of the British Ambassador to the United Nations Karen Pierce, Friends of 1325, and in the presence of delegates from New Zealand, Brazil, the European Union, the State of Palestine, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, France, Finland, and Sierra Leone, the importance of holding Israel accountable to violations of international humanitarian law was highlighted. A change in European official discourse also addressed, particularly the problem of speaking about the conflict as though it is a symmetrical one, and not a relationship between occupier and an occupied peoples, the former having due obligations towards the latter. There were also individual meetings between the delegation members and delegates of Norway, the Netherlands, and the United States.

The delegation called for commitment by the United Nations Human Rights Council to its charter, and to thereby increase efforts to end the Israeli occupation and uphold accountability through international mechanisms. It also demanded that the Human Rights Council works alongside states to facilitate a commission to carry out its work. It also emphasized the responsibility of States for holding Israeli accountable for its violations. The forth-coming work of an independent fact finding mission, set up at the Human Rights Council at its 21st meeting on July 24th was addressed, in which the Palestinian delegation emphasized the importance of providing a platform for the testimonies of women who are victims of Israeli attacks. The delegation also highlighted the importance of coordination between the Commission and Palestinian women’s organizations. The delegation also met with civil society organizations from various countries and Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mr. Al Hussein emphasized the importance of the role of the Council in working with member states in protection of human rights. Amal Khreishe, a Palestinian delegate and General Director of the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD), emphasized to Mr. Al Hussein the importance of protecting the rights of the Palestinian people and the necessity of ending the occupation, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. She also addressed the importance of holding Israel accountable to its crimes against women and children in occupied Palestine, and the role of the Human Rights Council in safeguarding their security. She also invited him to visit occupied Palestine.

A documentary film produced by WATC on crimes against women and children in the latest aggression against the Gaza strip was presented at the open meeting between the Palestinian delegates and members from various countries at the Human Rights Council and nongovernmental organizations. Afterwards, Hanan Kaoud a delegation member from MIFTAH presented a glimpse into the reality of human rights violations committed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the aggression. She cited the killings of Mohammad Abu Khdeir of Jerusalem, and Mohammad Abu Nawara of Ramallah, in the hands of settlers and soldiers of the Israeli occupation. She addressed the reality of Israeli aggression against women and children in Gaza, and its devastating impact on the civilian population, from the economic, social, and psychological standpoints. She reiterated Israeli violations of international humanitarian law, which calls for protection of civilian populations, especially women and children in times of war. She emphasized the importance of acting upon the results of a forthcoming investigation on the crimes committed in Gaza, and not to allow for impunity as happened with the Goldstone report on the aggression on the Gaza Strip. Samia Bamie from WATC also called on the Swiss government and all state signatories to the Four Geneva Conventions to hold a conference on Israeli’s failure to comply with its principles. She also spoke about the vision of Palestinian women with regards to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, and the security and protection of women, which Israel has not complied with. She called for member states and the United Nations as a whole to work towards an end to the occupation and an immediate international protection mechanism for the Palestinian people.

Amal Khreishe refuted Israel’s claim that it has launched the war on Gaza for self-defense, as it continues to be an occupier. She emphasized the Palestinians’ right to self defense according to international laws. She also called for boycott of Israel until it complies with international humanitarian and human rights standards. She highlighted the impact of the Palestinian peoples’ rights to security and pointed out the interrelatedness of regional insecurity as a result of the Israeli occupation. She emphasized the historic role of Palestinian women in struggling for their national and civic rights, and their efforts to participate in negotiations. In addition, she called for an international conference held by the United Nations to discuss mechanisms of human rights protection for the Palestinian people, and for the Human Rights Council to address protection of Palestinian women.

The delegates discussed mobilization strategies and made the following recommendations:

1. The only way to achieve sustainable peace is for Israel, to end its prolonged occupation of the Occupied State of Palestine, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. We, the Palestinian women organisations urge member states to use all necessary efforts to ensure the ending of the Occupation, including the provision of immediate international protection for all civilian population in the Occupied State of Palestine.

2. All High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention are under the obligation to respect and ensure respect for the obligations arising from the Convention in relation to the Occupied State of Palestine. We, the Palestinian women organisations urge the Government of Switzerland and contracting parties, to convene a Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention without delay, to discuss Israel’s non-compliance with the Fourth Convention and First Additional Protocol, as well as agreeing on all necessary measures to be taken.

3. We welcome the establishment of the Independent, International Commission of Inquiry, appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council, as a crucial step towards investigating all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied State of Palestine. We, the Palestinian women organisations, call on all member states of the Human Rights Council to ensure that the Commission of Inquiry has all the necessary support to fulfil its mandate effectively and ensure that the findings of the Commission form a base for developing immediate concrete adequate accountability measures.

   We call the Commission of Inquiry to adapt a holistic gender perspective when investigating and documenting violations and to take into account the disproportionate impact of violence on women and girls, and ensure consultations with women and girls victims and a broad of number of organizations in the Occupied State of Palestine.

4. Palestinian women have great concern that the ceasefire will not hold unless the international community ensure that Israel lift the siege on Gaza and to secure the right of mobility, right for free access and movement from and to Gaza for people and goods.

5. Palestinian women have been excluded from any consultation or formal participation in the negotiated ceasefire to end the aggression in Gaza. We, the Palestinian women organisations, urgently call for the involvement and equal participation of women in the resolution of the conflict between Israel and the occupied State of Palestine and the integration of a women’s rights and gender perspective in the resolution of the conflict and the collective responsibility of the international community to ensure women's protection and security in accordance with UNSCR 1325, 2122, and CEDAW GR30.

6. We, the Palestinian Women Organizations, call upon the United Nations Member States and the Human Rights Council to ensure immediate action for the reconstruction in Gaza, to hold Israel accountable for the destruction and to guarantee the prevention of any further destruction perpetrated by the occupying power. Israel must compensate all those who are affected. In the process of reconstruction, the international community should see to it that Israel would not profit from the reconstruction operation in any way. We also urgently call for the consultation and inclusiveness of women and a holistic gender perspective the reconstruction process.

7. We, the Palestinian women organizations, urge the Human Rights Council to support and to decide on a panel on the human rights situation of Palestinian women under occupation, during the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council.

To view the Women International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Middle East and North Africa Statement, please click here:WILPF_Side_Event_Palestine_HRC27th.pdf

“Development Challenges and Population Dynamics in a Changing Arab World”

CAIRO, Egypt, 16 June 2013 — With the 20th anniversary of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994, approaching, governments, civil society organizations, academia, youth and women groups, development partners and leading experts from across the Arab region will gather in the Egyptian capital again to review the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action (ICPD/PoA) in the region and to shape the population and development agenda beyond 2014 for the post-­‐2015 framework.

This review will be at the heart of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in the Arab States with the theme “Development Challenges and Population Dynamics in a Changing Arab World.” The conference is jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia ESCWA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Cairo from 24 to 26 June 2013.

In a changing Arab region that is facing new and evolving demographic, socio-­‐economic and political realities, the Conference provides a platformn at an opportune time, to renew political commitment to a more equal and sustainable context for the region’s 370 million people. National delegations at the Conference are expected to adopt a declaration representing the consensus on the region’s population and development prospects beyond 2014.

The Regional Conference on Population and Development in the Arab States will once again place Cairo in the world’s limelight, as it will be the first of a series of regional preparatory meetings leading up to the United Nations ICPD Beyond 2014 Review. This Review is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, which requested UNFPA to undertake it in consultation with Member States and in cooperation with all relevant partners.

To this effect, a global survey has been designed to capture the highest-­‐quality data and analysis in a systematic and consistent approach that enables comparability at global, regional and country levels. The survey was launched in the 22 member states of the League of Arab States in August 2012 and involved different national stakeholders. The regional trends that emerge from the survey data will be presented at the Conference.

In addition, the findings of a set of assessments of the region’s key population and development issues, namely (1) Ageing; (2) Demographic and democratic transitions; (3) Family formation; (4) Fertility; (5) Women’s empowerment and gender-­‐based violence; (6) Maternal health; (7) Migration; (8) Population, environment and climate change; and (9) Youth, will complement the regional survey review.

The combination of these assessments, the regional findings of the global survey and the Conference deliberations will contribute towards a better understanding of the current state of the Arab population. That will identify policy options to accelerate the implementation of the ICPD/PoA beyond 2014, and feed into the post-­‐2015 development framework, voicing the renewed vision from the Arab region for the future we want for all.

For more information on ICPD Beyond 2014 visit http://icpdbeyond2014.org

The conference website is accessible through http://www.arabicpdbeyond2014.org

Media accreditation and liaison:

Ms. Nagat Marbi, League of Arab States
Email: nougim@hotmail.com, Mobile: +201001210663

Fethi Debbabi, United Nations Information Centre
Email: fethi.debbabi@unic-­‐eg.org, Mobile: +201006147530

To View the Press Release as PDF

Last February the Women Mediterranean Forum was officially recognized by the general secretary of the Union for the Mediterranean (UpM) as the new bearer of the project “Develop the autonomy of women” certified by the UpM in December 2011. This project was finest carried by the Association of foreshadowing of the women’s Foundation for the Mediterranean disappeared in March 2012. The Women Mediterranean Forum is very glad to announce that this project continues this year.

To register it in the long term, associations for the rights of Euro-Mediterranean women, all around the Women Mediterranean Forum, want to create a Foundation of Women of the Mediterranean.

During the Forum of the Anna Lindh Foundation organized from 4 to 7 April 2013 in Marseille, Women’s rights have been put in the honor by the member of workshops, and events which were consecrated. This forum was also an opportunity to highlight the importance granted by the international organizations and states to the expectations of civil society.

Within this framework, the Women Mediterranean Forum appealed to Marseille to states, local authorities, institutions, companies, research laboratories and women associations for “actively supporting the initiative of the Women Mediterranean Forum for the creation of the Foundation of the Mediterranean Women”. This next creation perspective has been mentioned buy Mrs. Najat Vallaud Belcacem France’s minister of women’s rights during his closing speech.

The Women Mediterranean Forum welcomes the great momentum of the euro-Mediterranean civil society around him to create together the Women of the Mediterranean Foundation!

As the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meets in Brussels, PLO Executive Committee Member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, calls on the donor community to put an end to the continued Israeli encroachment on Palestinian economic development, health and education services, as well as the general quality of life for the entire Palestinian civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

Dr. Ashrawi stated, “For decades, international assistance has been one of the crucial cornerstones of Palestinian perseverance and more recently, state-building against the odds. The Palestinian people and its leadership are deeply grateful for this invaluable assistance. But it must be clear to our generous donors that our goal is not to be dependent on their assistance indefinitely. Indeed, we call on the AHLC to ensure that the Israeli occupation, the root cause of our economic difficulties and the main source of our lost revenues, comes to an end.”

“For almost two decades the international community invested, through its assistance, in furthering the cause of peace by helping the Palestinian people prepare for statehood. A year ago, they confirmed that Palestine was institutionally ready to exercise its full right to self-determination and independence. Today, we call on the international donor community to protect their investment from the clear and present danger that on-going unilateral and illegal Israeli actions pose to our common goal of justice and peace. Without doing that, international assistance and its crucial role will end up only covering the cost of the Israeli occupation rather than achieving development and protecting the institutions of the independent state of Palestine, which is the only guarantee to peace in the Middle East.”

Dr. Ashrawi added, “The United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund have all submitted reports recognizing the Palestinian Authority’s remarkable achievements in the economy and development sectors. These reports also unanimously agree that the Israeli occupation and its illegal punishing measures is the single most important obstacle to Palestinian economic prosperity and stability. Thus, the goals driving international assistance will only be possible when this occupation ends.”

“It must be clear that for Israel to obstruct the implementation of a single Palestinian project is one obstruction too many. The AHLC should work on ending this unnatural situation of occupation and limitations and not discuss how to make it tolerable. It is neither tolerable nor sustainable.”

“The international community must exercise its moral and legal authority to do what is needed. Israel must be compelled to cease its violations of international law, including illegal settlement building and the construction of the apartheid wall, its annexation and ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem, military checkpoints, and its total power control over freedom of movement within the occupied Palestinian territories as well as to and from Palestine. Above all, Israel must take immediate steps to end its 45 year-long occupation,” concluded Dr. Ashrawi.

For further information, please refer to both the PNA Position Paper submitted to Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee: Equitable Development: Moving Forward Despite the Occupation and the PLO NAD-NSU position paper:The Economic Costs of the Israeli Occupation

PLO official Hanan Ashrawi on Monday invited US Republican Newt Gingrich to visit Palestine as her guest, after the presidential candidate said the Palestinian people were "invented."

"I personally offer to host Mr. Gingrich," Ashrawi said in a statement.

In an interview Friday with the Jewish Channel, Gingrich said Palestinians were an "invented" people "who are in fact Arabs." On Saturday, he added: "These people are terrorists."

Ashrawi invited the presidential hopeful "to re-learn his history and come to Palestine to see for himself, not only the suffering the Palestinian people face on a daily basis due to the Israeli military occupation, but also to experience the rich culture and history of the Palestinian people"

She added: "it is unbelievable that Mr. Gingrich, who studied history at two outstanding American universities and even taught history, could make such a misguided comment, solely for the sake of political pandering."

She noted that Gingrich labeled Palestinians as terrorists "on the same day that we mourned the loss of a young Palestinian peacefully protesting the military occupation of his land."

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad also urged Gingrich to open a history book.

"Even the most extremist settlers of Israel wouldn’t talk in such a ridiculous way," Fayyad told reporters on Saturday.

Such remarks would be better suited for a politician adhering to "a Nazi ideology, a source of suffering for humanity, and the Jews topped the list of victims” of that ideology, he added.