As part of MIFTAH’s approach on influencing public policies to guarantee social justice and equality, it held a focus session on policies and procedures in sharia courts regarding the termination of marriage through lawsuits of conflict and discord, according to the Jordanian Personal Status Law No. 61 of 1976, enacted in the West Bank, and Order No. 303 on the Family Rights Law of 1954 enacted in the Gaza Strip. Several sharia court professionals attended the session in addition to the Judicial Inspection Commission, the Counseling Department, the Alimony Fund, sharia and civil attorneys and the author of the paper, Khadija Hussein.
Legal procedures for separation on the basis of conflict or discord
During the session, the most significant procedures practiced in all separation lawsuits for various reasons, including separation due to harm, discord and conflict, were discussed, from the moment the lawsuit is filed through all of the judicial procedures including notification of the opposing party, convening the dispute, displaying the evidence and motives of each of the parties to the dispute and their response to it, until the sharia ruling is made. The participants also discussed procedures to appeal or oppose sharia rulings and other judicial procedures in accordance with the legal principles followed in all sharia courts.
The session also addressed the role of arbitrators in marital disputes, considering this to be a very important role in separation lawsuits for damage from discord or conflict, especially at the beginning of the intervention whereby the arbitrators seek to achieve conciliation and agreement between the quarreling couple.
Recommendations:
The session concluded with the following recommendations:
- The need to develop legislation on issues of separation due to conflict and discord and to create a unified Palestinian legal framework to be applied in all parts of the homeland based on the principle of equality in the Palestinian Basic Law and the system of international agreements, first and foremost CEDAW.
- A review of procedures for ending a marriage based on the principle of preserving the family as much as possible; such procedures need adjustment by giving at least a month to the couple before making the decision to terminate their marriage; also to take measures regarding the criteria for choosing arbitrators and determining the venue for holding their sessions in addition to means used for verifying the information provided by the couple.
- To put efforts towards establishing family counseling departments and increasing its employees and formulating a series of capacity-building interventions for them; also to ensure there are binding procedures for the validation of judges in cooperation with the family counseling department before making a final decision on any case; efforts should also be made to take advantage of Arab experiences at the regional level in terms of policies and procedures that were adopted to create these units.
- The need for the regulation of procedures regarding medical reports as a means of verifying damage or harm given that sometimes these reports are not sufficient. For example, there should be a doctor specifically for sharia courts. The national referral system should also be reaffirmed.
- To consider and adequately provide legal aid; the participants all agreed that the issue of legal aid has been neglected. A suggestion was made to set up a fund for financial aid for women to file conflict and discord lawsuits due to the rise in procedural fees, which hinders women’s access to justice.
- The need for procedures that guarantee all memos reach the judges. The participants also recommended obligatory legal reform that guarantees application and implementation and an increase in the number of judges and employees in the Sharia courts units and departments, in addition to procedures aimed at eradicating legal illiteracy in Palestinian society.
MIFTAH project manager Najwa Yaghi said the objective of the session was to consult with experts over suggestions and alternatives provided by MIFTAH, which would contribute to women’s access to justice, maintaining that these proposals came from the results of the report, “Legal loopholes in policies and procedures of sharia and ecclesiastical courts.” The report was based on a methodology of qualitative research through the analysis of enacted legislation, which regulates personal status rights and analyses the content of public polices and legal procedures for the implementation of sharia and ecclesiastical laws. It is also based on the analysis of directives issued by the Sharia Chief Justice Department for the interpretation of the law. The analysis was also based on gender tools and CEDAW to uncover the gaps in laws regulating rights and procedures for achieving justice. In-depth interviews were also conducted with several judges and lawyers in the field of sharia and ecclesiastical justice,” she said.
The session is part of MIFTAH’s efforts to support the Women’s Peace and Security agenda through interventions from its OXFAM-funded “Conflict and Fragility” project.
'مفتاح' تعقد جلسة بؤرية مركزة حول السياسات والإجراءات المعمول بها في المحاكم الشرعية في قضية إنهاء الزواج من خلال دعوى النزاع والشقاق
تاريخ النشر: 31/12/2019
بقلم: MIFTAH
رام الله – 26/12/2019 – ضمن توجهات المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" في التأثير في السياسات العامة بما يضمن العدالة الاجتماعية والمساواة، عقدت "مفتاح" جلسة بؤرية مركزة حول السياسات والإجراءات المعمول بها في المحاكم الشرعية في قضية إنهاء الزواج من خلال دعوى النزاع والشقاق، وفقا لقانون الأحوال الشخصية الأردني رقم (61) للعام 1976 النافذ في الضفة الغربية، والأمر رقم (303) بشأن قانون حقوق العائلة للعام 1954 النافذ في قطاع غزة، شارك فيها عدد من مزاولي /ات المهنة في المحاكم الشرعية، هيئة التفتيش القضائي، دائرة الإرشاد، صندوق النفقة، ومحامون/ات شرعيون ونظاميون، بالإضافة إلى معدّة الورقة الأستاذة خديجة حسين.
إجراءات دعوى التفريق للنزاع والشقاق
تم خلال الجلسة مناقشة أهم الاجراءات المتبعة في كافة دعاوى التفريق بمختلف أسبابها ومنها دعوى التفريق للضرر للشقاق والنزاع من لحظة رفع الدعوى مروراً بجميع الاجراءات القضائية من تبليغ الخصوم، وانعقاد الخصومة وبيّنات ودفوع كل طرف من أطراف الخصومة والرد عليها إلى حين صدور الحكم الشرعي حسب الأصول إلى جانب اجراءات استئناف الاحكام الشرعية أو الاعتراض عليها وغيرها من الاجراءات القضائية المتعددة وفق الأصول القانونية المتبعة أمام المحاكم الشرعية على اختلاف درجاتها .
في حين تطرقت الجلسة إلى دور المحكمين في النزاعات الزوجية، حيث اعتبر هذا الدور بالغ الأهمية في دعوى التفريق للضرر من الشقاق والنزاع وخاصة عند بداية التدخل حيث من المفترض أن تنصب مهمة المحكمين في السعي الحثيث للإصلاح والتوفيق بين الزوجين المتخاصمين.
التوصيات
وخلصت الجلسة إلى مجموعة من التوصيات، التي أكدت على:
- ضرورة تطوير التشريعات الخاصة بقضايا التفريق للنزاع والشقاق، وإيجاد إطار قانوني فلسطيني موحد يتم تطبيقه في كل أنحاء الوطن يستند في مضمونه إلى مبدأ المساواة في القانون الأساسي الفلسطيني ومنظومة الاتفاقيات الدولية وفي مقدمتها اتفاقية سيداو.
- إعادة النظر في إجراءات إنهاء الحياة الزوجية، انطلاقا من مبدأ الحفاظ على الأسرة قدر الإمكان، حيث أنّ التعميم بحاجة إلى ضبط من خلال إعطاء مهلة شهر على الأقل للزوجين قبل أخذ القرار بإنهاء عقد الزواج، واتخاذ الإجراءات بخصوص معايير اختيار المحكمين وتحديد مكان عقد جلساتهم، وتقنيات تحققهم من المعلومات والتي يدلي بها الزوجان.
- بذل الجهود بتطوير دوائر الإرشاد الأسري، وزيادة الكوادر العاملين فيها، ووضع سلسلة من التدخلات لبناء قدراتهم/ن، ووجوب وجود الإجراءات الملزمة للقضاة بالتثبت بالتعاون مع وحدة الإرشاد الأسري قبل البت في القرار. والاستفادة من التجارب العربية على مستوى الاقليم بالسياسات والإجراءات التي تم تبنيها في تطويرها لهذه الوحدات.
- وجوب أن يكون هناك إجراءات لتنظيم الاجراءات ذات العلاقة بالتقارير الطبية كوسيلة من وسائل إثبات الضرر، حيث أنها أحياناً لا تفي بالغرض، مثل أن يكون هناك طبيب خاص للمحاكم الشرعية والتأكيد على نظام التحويل الوطني.
- النظر في المساعدات القانونية المقدمة وكفايتها، حيث توافق المشاركون على أن موضوع المساعدات القانونية موضوع مهمل ولا يوجد به متخصصون. وتم اقتراح وجود صندوق مالي للمساعدة المالية للنساء في رفعها لقضايا النزاع والشقاق، وذلك لارتفاع الرسوم المالية للإجراءات التي تعيق وصول النساء إلى العدالة.
- ضرورة وجود الإجراءات التي تضمن وصول التعميمات إلى القضاة، وأوصى المشاركون والمشاركات بإلزامية الاصلاح القانوني التي تضمن التطبيق والتنفيذ، وزيادة عدد القضاة، والموظفين في دوائر ووحدات المحاكم الشرعية، بالإضافة إلى الاجراءات التي من شأنها القضاء على الأمية القانونية للمجتمع المحلي الفلسطيني.
بدورها، قالت نجوى ياغي، مديرة مشاريع في "مفتاح"، أن الهدف من الجلسة كان التشاور مع أهل الاختصاص في المقترحات والبدائل التي تقدمها مؤسسة "مفتاح"، والتي من الممكن أن تساهم في وصول النساء للعدالة، علماً بأن هذه المقترحات خرجت عن نتائج تقرير:" الفجوات الحقوقية في سياسات وإجراءات المحاكم الشرعية والكنسية" الذي اعتمد على منهجية البحث الكيفي من خلال تحليل مضمون التشريعات النافذة التي تنظم الحقوق في مجال الأحوال الشخصية، وتحليل مضمون السياسات العامة والإجراءات القانونية المتبعة لتطبيق القوانين الشرعية والكنسية، وتحليل التعليمات الصادرة عن ديوان قاضي القضاة لتفسير القانون. كما استند التحليل إلى أدوات النوع الاجتماعي واتفاقية سيداو، للكشف عن الفجوات في القوانين الناظمة للحقوق، وتلك الناظمة لإجراءات الوصول إلى العدالة. إضافة إلى إجراء مقابلات معمقة مع عدد من القضاة/ات والمحامين/ات في مجال القضاء الشرعي والكنسي". تأتي هذه الجهود ضمن مساعي "مفتاح" في دعم أجندة المرأة السلام والأمن، ومن خلال تدخلات مشروع "تعزيز مشاركة النساء في بناء السلم والأمن" الممول من منظمة "أكسفام".
MIFTAH holds open dialogue entitled 'Challenges facing the Palestinian political system'
Date posted: November 27, 2024
By MIFTAH
- The institutional relationship between the PA and the PLO
- The relationship between the political system and international organizations, with a focus on UNRWA as a case study
On November 20, 2024, the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) held a hybrid-style open dialogue entitled “Challenges facing the Palestinian political system” at the Red Crescent Headquarters in Al Bireh. The conference shed light on the challenges facing the Palestinian political system and the escalating political and humanitarian situation after the 37th Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu took office at the end of 2022.
The conference brought together several experts, scholars, analysts and political and national figures, in addition to official institutions, diplomatic missions, NGOs, INGOs and university students. Its focus was on pressing issues within the Palestinian political system, especially in light of the genocide against the Palestinian people and its subsequent political repercussions.
MIFTAH’s objective was to hold a discussion on political courses of action and proposals that could help develop a joint Palestinian vision for confronting challenges to the internal Palestinian relationship between the PLO and PA and relationships with international organizations, including the inflammatory Israeli assault on UNRWA.
The conference’s interventions focused on two major points: the first session discussed the institutional relationship between the PA and PLO, while the second session focused on the political system’s relationship with international organizations, with UNRWA as a case study.
In her opening address, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Chair of MIFTAH’s Board of Directors, stated that the PA was created as one arm of the PLO and that the relationship between the PLO and PA must be clear and integral. She stressed how the PLO is the entity that shouldered the responsibility of protecting the Palestinian people’s rights and cemented their national identity. Ashrawi called for finding ways to revive the PLO and revitalize its institutions and to discipline the relationship between it and the PA in order to achieve its national goals. She maintained this should be far-removed from slogans but rather, focused on practical steps to galvanize its role in local and international arenas.
Dr. Azmi Shuaibi, member of MIFTAH’s BoD highlighted the historical roots of the problematic relationship between the PA and the PLO, tracing the political transformations since the Palestinian declaration of independence in 1988 to today. Shuaibi indicated that the PA was created by a decision from the PLO Executive Committee, but then branched off without a clear framework to determine the institutional relationship between the two parties. He maintained that the only solution lies in a reassessment of the shape and form of the PA and the reinforcement and independence of the PLO’s role.
Opening the session, MIFTAH Executive Director, Dr. Taheer Araj, said the procedures adopted by the current Israeli government fall within a clear plan to permanently eliminate the Palestinian cause. Araj ascertained that the Israeli occupation is very clear on its intentions to continue its genocide of the Palestinians to forcibly displace them, not only as a future step but one applicable in the near future.
The conference coincided with the ongoing escalation of Israeli violations against the Palestinian people, including increasing violence, settlement expansion and settler attacks in addition to the genocide on the Gaza Strip, which began on October, 2023. The Israeli government is also continuing to undermine the PA through attempts to destroy it financially and politically and by classifying PLO factions and Palestinian national movements as “terrorist” all of which threaten the stability of the Palestinian political system. The participants also discussed the ongoing Israeli assault on official and international Palestinian institutions, including UNRWA.
The final segment of the conference was a discussion of Palestinian options for facing these challenges, with a focus on the need to develop a joint Palestinian vision at the internal and international levels, to guide Palestinians in their struggle for freedom and independence and to end the genocide on occupied Palestinian land.
MIFTAH releases 2021-2022 comparative actual spending reports for the social and security sectors, including social justice and gender indicators
Date posted: April 04, 2023
By MIFTAH
MIFTAH recently released 2021-2022 comparative actual spending reports for the social sector (health, education, higher education and scientific research, social development and labor), and for the first time, the security sector (Ministry of Interior and National Security). The reports were based on annual financial data released by the Ministry of Finance in Palestine for 2021-2022 and on an accrual basis.
The data showed that the Ministry of Interior and National Security had the highest percentage of actual spending in 2022, accounting for 22.8% of overall public expenditures, or ILS3.68 billion. This was a slight increase from the Ministry’s share in 2021. Meanwhile, actual spending on the education sector (Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research) stood at 21.5% of overall public expenditures, or ILS3.48 billion. This was also an increase from the education sector’s share in 2021, which was 20.6% of public expenditures.
Moreover, actual spending on the Ministry of Health also increased in 2022, comprising 15% of overall public expenditures, at a sum of ILS2.4 billion. This was higher than in 2021, where its share was 14.4%. As for the Ministry of Social Development, actual spending was still low, amounting for 6.2% of overall public expenditures in 2022, compared to 5.8% in 2021. The Ministry of Social Development’s actual spending in 2022 was approximately ILS1 billion. As for the labor sector, actual spending on this sector in 2022 was 0.31% of overall public expenditures, while in 2021 it was 0.28%. Actual spending on the labor sector in 2022 was ILS50.1 million.
Upon review of actual spending reports of the targeted ministries from a gender and social justice perspective, it is clear that actual spending on the Ministry of Social Development does not coincide with the scope of its responsibilities as the forerunner of the social sector in Palestine, including its programs for combatting poverty and the protection of poor and marginalized social sectors. Moreover, non-compliance to the disbursement of payments for poor families within the CTP continued according to estimates, whereby only two of four installments for 2022 were disbursed, one at minimum value. This adversely affected the financial security of the most underprivileged and marginalized sectors of society, in addition to the insufficient estimated budget and actual spending on the social protection program, in spite of its importance in providing protection and social services to battered women, children, special-needs persons and the elderly.
The data also pointed to the low percentage of women working in the security sector, which stood at 6% of the total number of workers in this sector, while they comprised 46% of the civil sector. This shows a gap in actual spending on the security sector from a gender perspective, given that the lion’s share of actual spending in 2022 was on salaries and wages. Hence, women only benefited very little from these allocations, which were nearly ILS2.9 billion in 2022.
The data also indicated that the development expenditures for the Ministry of Labor were only ILS4.5 million in 2022, even though planned development expenditures were ILS32 million, which is much higher. This casts a shadow on gender-related programs and projects, which were allotted sizeable budgets within development expenditures, such as creating sustainable opportunities as alternatives for Palestinian men and women working in settlements, for which ILS10 million were earmarked.
Even though there was an increase in actual spending in 2022 at the targeted ministries in general, this increase was mainly concentrated on salaries and wages. In spite of the importance of providing a decent life for employees, there is still a need to increase spending on development expenditures, since they are at the forefront of developing government services, including the nationalization and institutionalization of various social services.
MIFTAH concludes town hall meetings on political participation and citizens’ rights for women and youth
Date posted: January 09, 2023
By MIFTAH
Ramallah – 29/12/2022 – Within its efforts to promote democratic values and the peaceful transfer of power within the Palestinian government system, MIFTAH’s field advisory team completed over 100 town hall meetings in the second half of 2022. The meetings were held in coordination and cooperation with CSOs, LGUs and grassroots organizations and targeted women and youth in several West Bank and Gaza Strip districts. The objective of these meetings was to raise awareness among the electorate on the electoral system in Palestine and on civil society demands to increase women and youth participation in local and general elections as candidates and voters, on the premise that this boosts their presence in decision-making levels and involves them in public affairs.
The town hall meetings included several exchange visits between LGU members in the various districts. The women shared the experiences and challenges they faced after becoming council members. The meetings focused on the concept of citizenship within a broader definition of the various forms of political participation and the importance of involvement from youth and women in public life. They also pointed to the different forms of democracy and the main pillars of the democratic society Palestinians seek to create. The participants furthermore discussed the various forms of electoral systems and shed light on the gaps in electoral laws regarding the presence of women and youth.
The participants pointed to the importance of periodic legislative and presidential elections and the danger of the ongoing absence of the PLC on matters pertaining to civic peace. They also warned against the absence of oversight and accountability, maintaining that the defunct PLC has contributed to shrinking civic space and public freedoms and therefore, the ability or desire to become involved in political life, especially for women and youth. In most of the meetings, the participants also indicated that the absence of a regular democratic process in Palestine contributed to the overall exclusion of youth from participation and to the marginalization of the role of women in Palestinian political decision-making.
The town hall meetings stressed on the importance of pressing for legislative, presidential and local elections in all West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip districts. They also endorsed the demand for equality in electoral laws, starting with raising the women’s quota to a minimum of 30%, raising the candidacy age and lowering the threshold. They urged Palestinian factions to assume a key role in the process of inclusion for women and youth in the public sphere and to prevent the progression of tribalism in the democratic process. The attendees emphasized the importance of monitoring the performance of LGUs in their interaction with local communities and the consistency of their meetings. Finally, they said female council members must be given the opportunity to exercise their role in their respective councils as equals to their male counterparts.
MIFTAH holds town hall meetings on an annual basis as part of its awareness campaign on citizens’ rights and the promotion of the democratic approach for a peaceful transfer of power, in addition to the involvement of women and youth in elections as both candidates and voters. Each year, through these town hall meetings, MIFTAH aims to reach the widest possible segment of the electorate and the different social sectors in all parts of Palestine.
