MIFTAH
Thursday, 28 March. 2024
 
Your Key to Palestine
The Palestinian Initiatives for The Promotoion of Global Dialogue and Democracy
 
 
 

Ramallah – MIFTAH recently completed a series of public meetings in the villages of Fasayel, Zbeidat, Ojeh and Jiftlik, which was attended by grassroots organizations, youth and women’s groups as part of its “Amal” Program for supporting women’s transforming leadership in changing times in the Middle East and North African countries (2012-2015)

According to MIFTAH’s program director Lamis Shuabi, the program is aimed at contributing to elevating Palestinian women’s capabilities – particularly poor and marginalized women – in participating in leadership positions at all decision-making levels. This is to guarantee that their needs are met and their rights achieved within the current governing structure.

MIFTAH implemented this program in partnership with the Women’s Affairs Center, Women’s Center for Legal and Social Counseling and the Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development, in addition to OXFAM-Novib and is funded by SIDA.

Shuabi explained: “The project was carried out in five West Bank districts including the Jordan Valley (in Area C)and in the Gaza Strip. The direct beneficiaries of the project are youth, women, grassroots organizations, women political leaders, PLC members and political parties in addition to those working in the media.”

The meetings held in the aforementioned villages shed light on the living conditions of women living in marginalized areas of the occupied Palestinian lands as a result of ongoing Israeli measures. These measures seriously limit human and natural resources amid dwindling international efforts to provide legal protection to Palestinian citizens of Area C such as the Jordan Valley villages. This is coupled with the limited ability of the PA to offer its services, whether operational, developmental or service-oriented, in these areas, the effects of which are mostly felt by women.

During the meetings, several issues were discussed, including the high percentage of women from these villages who provide cheap labor in Israeli settlements in the absence of any protective laws or legislations. Area C, which falls under complete and direct Israeli occupation and control, holds the lion’s share of economic and natural resources in the entire region. At the same time, most women live well under the poverty line. Additionally, there is no active role for women members of local councils, adversely affecting women’s political participation in their villages. There is also a high unemployment rate among female graduates.

In the round table discussion in Ouja, the debate revolved around pinpointing the pressing issues in the community, which have a direct effect on women. Twenty-three women attended the meeting in which they discussed the services in the villages, including the poor electricity services, the need to improve water services and the need for street lighting. The women also discussed the problem of unemployment among young graduates, both male and female and the poor economic conditions of the village in general. Finally, they discussed ways to revive the role of their female local council members in a bid to push these issues forward.

 
 
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