Ramallah – As a continuation of the hearing session on the referral system for women victims of violence in relevant ministries (health, women, justice, social affairs and the police), which was held at the end of 2014 in cooperation and coordination with the gender unit at the Prime Minister Office, MIFTAH recently held a public policy session with the ministers and institutions involved. The goal of the meeting was to discuss the recommendations of the first session and the latest developments pertaining to the implementation of the referral system. The participants also discussed ways of facing the challenges in implementing the system in institutions, as part of the “Support for the Protection of Women” program carried out by MIFTAH in partnership with UNFPA.
“Takamul” as a national system
The session was opened by MIFTAH project coordinator Hanan Sa'eed. After welcoming the audience, she explained that ever since the decision was taken, MIFTAH has worked and followed-up the implementation of Takamol system given its importance as a national system, stressing on the need to exert efforts to implement this system in the various sectors. In this regard, MIFTAH has intensified its work with involved parties in order to come up with ways of confronting the challenges that prevent the system from being put into effect to support women's access to justice and security.
The meeting was attended by representatives of relevant ministries and executive bodies in the various directorates from West Bank districts in addition to a number of civil society institutions. The participants reaffirmed the importance of the full implementation of the Takamul system, which was ratified by the Council of Ministers on 10/12/2013 and which aims to set the foundations for a national covenant for dealing with battered women and to achieve protection and care for women in the health, social and judicial sectors. It is also aimed at setting foundations and regulations that clarify and govern the framework for the relationship with the beneficiaries in addition to showcasing the rights and duties that come with the service.
Building team capacities
Sa'eed highlighted the recommendations of the previous meeting, which confirmed the call for building the capacities of the technical teams that work on cases of women victims of violence and for adopting comprehensive awareness programs about violence. The recommendations also called on the Council of Ministers to ratify a law that protects women from violence, and the need to create a database to support monitoring and evaluation processes at a later stage. Other recommendations included an assessment of the quality and feasibility levels of the services offered by civil society organizations, and ensure that the Gaza Strip is not neglected in the activities, plans and programs for combatting violence against women. They also called on all the partners to work towards rehabilitating trained teams capable of dealing with battered women.
The session’s facilitator and gender expert Lamia Shaladeh then took the floor to determine the basic points of discussion after listening to the achievements of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in putting the system into effect. This was followed by discussing the challenges the ministries face in implementing the referral system.
Presentations
Head of the complaints unit at the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MoWA) Elham Sami who is also in charge of the unit that directly follows-up the implementation of the system in the health, social affairs and justice ministries, said her ministry was in the implementation stage. She said some of its parts had already been put into effect, especially in regards to the sector in charge of providing social services, which is the Ministry of Social Affairs. Still, she maintained, they had not reached the point of full implementation of the system, but said they had taken the first step.
Achievements
Sami also pointed that "so far some achievements had been made including: approval of a plan and mechanisms for implementation, start its implementation, and form a team from the Ministries of Women’s Affairs, Health, Social Affairs and the Police to set plans for its execution by each party, in addition to a review of the internal procedures that apply in each ministry".
Clear and comprehensive procedural guidelines
Wafa Muammar, a policewoman head of the Family Protection Unit in the Palestinian Police, said the enacted procedural guidelines for the police in dealing with violence against women were clear and comprehensive. “As the Family Protection Unit, we work on key issues to confront domestic violence, especially that directed at young girls”. She said the unit works in 11 districts and has 5-11 members in each district. She said the guidelines, which have been in effect for over a year, include an assessment of the cases of violence against women and the level of gravity they are subjected to.
In regards to the obstacles, Muammar said one of the main problems was the constant change in the team: “Because it is not permanent, this negatively reflects on the performance of the team as a whole”. In addition, she said one of the obstacles was that there were no budgets allocated to implement the system in the ministries. Another obstacle, she said, was the culture of some sectors regarding their perception of violence in addition to a lack of sufficient staff in some administrations and a lack of infrastructure in the three sectors that would enable it to implement the system.
Psychological support for battered women
On his part, Deputy Minister of Justice, Dr. Munther Abdallah reiterated the importance of providing psychological support to battered women and for the need for a support and pressure lobby in this direction. In this regard, he warned of absenting the role of the judiciary.
As for the most significant obstacles, Dr. Abdallah said these included the unwillingness of women victims of violence to file complaints at police stations. This he said, called for an active role of the media to shed light on this issue, in addition to activating the role of the law to prosecute perpetrators of violence. He stressed on the need for mechanisms and a system of protection for women. Abdallah also stressed on the fact that there are no legal texts that criminalize the perpetrator of violence with the suitable punishment, in addition to the need to allocate budgets and resources from relevant ministries towards enacting the system.
Dr. Abdallah pointed to the importance of spreading awareness in Palestinian society and the importance of implementing the law, followed up by monitoring and evaluation. He said problems with implementation existed in all sectors, calling on the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) to carry out its role in this regard.
Ramlawi: assault needs health care
Dr. Asaad Ramlawi, Director General of primary health care and public health at the Ministry of Health, meanwhile began by saying that "cases of assault need health care" and should therefore be dealt with from a comprehensive health view." He went on to say there must be a budget for a clear and comprehensive training program, which necessitates the existence of an integral national program with cooperation from local communities in implementing the system.
Cooperation between the Police and the Ministry of Health
Dr. Ramlawi pointed out to the cooperation between his ministry and the police, saying the ministry trained all health and nursing teams in clinics and hospitals.
He also addressed the social concept of violence, its reasons and motives and called for not limiting this concept to violence against women. As for the obstacles, Dr. Ramlawi said his ministry lacked a documentation process and a 'real issue with follow-up." Still, he maintained, they had an effective monitoring system whereby serious cases are referred to "Sehlters".
Mininstry of Social Affairs: accuracy in evaluation of level of seriousness
A presentation by the Ministry of Social Affairs' team called for clarity and accuracy in assessing the seriousness of the case by the partners, saying the ministry had prepared a procedures guide and a database still under construction.
Establishing a database and including the Gaza Strip
UNFPA Assistant Representative Ziad Yaish, raised the question of the status of implementing the referral system in the Gaza Strip.. Yaish recommended the establishment of a database in Palestine similar to the one in Jordan, saying this was a priority that must be addressed.
Council of Ministers: domesticating international laws
Saja Tirawi from the Council of Ministers focused on three main points: domesticating international laws pertaining to women's access to security and justice; reaffirming the coordinating role with partners including legislative intervention and mainstreaming the referral system; and third, following-up and assessment of the system through a supervisory committee.
Assessment of gravity level
In her presentation, Dr. Sabah Sharshir, director of social affairs in Nablus said the referral system must also be amended to include battered women with disabilities, and that it should be an automated system.
لقاء في 'مفتاح' يبحث التطورات المتعلقة بتطبيق نظام تحويل النساء
المعنفات (تكامل) وآليات مواجهة التحديات في تنفيذه داخل المؤسسات
تاريخ النشر: 12/08/2015
بقلم: مفتاح
رام الله - استكمالا لجلسة الاستماع المتعلقة بنظام تحويل النساء المعنفات في الوزارات ذات العلاقة (الصحة، المرأة، العدل، الشؤون الاجتماعية، والشرطة التي تم عقدها مع نهاية العام 2014، بالتنسيق والتعاون مع وحدة النوع الاجتماعي في مكتب الأمين العام لرئاسة مجلس الوزراء، عقدت المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" مؤخرا، جلسة سياسات عامة استكمالية مع الوزارات والمؤسسات ذات العلاقة، بهدف متابعة توصيات الجلسة الأولى والوقوف على آخر المستجدات والتطورات المتعلقة بتطبيق نظام التحويل و بحث آليات مواجهة التحديات في تنفيذ هذا النظام داخل المؤسسات، وذلك ضمن مشروع دعم حماية المرأة الذي تنفذه "مفتاح" بالشراكة مع صندوق الأمم المتحدة للسكان UNFPA.
"تكامل" كنظام وطني
استهلت الجلسة بكلمة من منسقة المشروع في "مفتاح" حنان سعيد، رحبت فيها بالحضور، وأشارت إلى أن مؤسسة "مفتاح"، ومنذ أن تم إصدار قرار النظام الوطني، عملت على تبني العمل ومتابعة نظام تكامل نظرا لأهميته كنظام وطني ولضرورة توحيد الجهود وتكاملها وصولاً لإنفاذ القرار في القطاعات المختلفة، ومن هنا تكثف مفتاح عملها مع جميع الأطراف ذات العلاقة في سبيل الخروج بآليات مواجهة التحديات التي تحول دون تفعيل النظام والعمل على متابعة تنفيذها على جميع المستويات لضمان وصول النساء إلى الأمن والعدل.
وأكدت الجلسة، التي شارك بها عدد من ممثلي الوزارات والأجسام التنفيذية من مختلف المديريات في محافظات الضفة الغربية ، بالإضافة إلى عدد من مؤسسات المجتمع المدني، إلى أهمية نظام تكامل الذي صادق عليه مجلس الوزراء بتاريخ 10/12/ 2013، والهادف إلى إرساء القواعد التي تشكل بمجموعها ميثاقا وطنيا للتعامل مع النساء المعنفات، من خلال تحقيق الحماية والرعاية للمرأة في القطاعات الصحية والاجتماعية والقضائية، وإرساء قواعد وأسس تحكم وتوضح الإطار الموجه الملزم للعلاقة المهنية مع المنتفعات، وتشكيل مرجعية وحكم للمشكلات الأدبية والأخلاقية والمهنية، وتبيان حقوق وواجبات مقدم الخدمة.
بناء قدرات الطواقم
واستعرضت بتكثيف توصيات اللقاء السابق والتي أكدت على الدعوة إلى بناء قدرات الطواقم الفنية التي تتعامل مع الحالات المعنفة، أو التي تتعرض للعنف، وتبني برنامج للتوعية الشاملة حيال العنف، ودعوة مجلس الوزراء إلى إقرار قانون حماية المرأة من العنف، وعلى أهمية بناء قاعدة المعلومات الضرورية للقيام لاحقا بعملية التقييم المطلوبة،وتقييم مستوى جودة وجدوى، الخدمات التي قامت بتقديمها مؤسسات المجتمع المدني، وأن لا يتم إهمال العمل في قطاع غزة في كل ما يتعلق بالأنشطة والخطط والبرامج لمكافحة العنف ضد المرأة، ودعوة جميع الشركاء للعمل وتأهيل وإعداد الكوادر المدربة القادرة على التعامل مع الضحايا من النساء المعنفات.
بعد ذلك حددت ميسرة الجلسة لمياء شلالدة المتخصصة في المجال بتحديد محاور النقاش الأساسية التي تتمثل بالاستماع إلى انجازات وزارة شؤون المرأة في تفعيل النظام ، ومن ثم الانتقال إلى التحديات والثغرات التي تواجه الوزارات ذات العلاقة في تطبيقها للنظام.
مداخلات الجلسة
وفي مداخلتها بالجلسة، تحدثت الهام سامي رئيسة وحدة الشكاوى في وزارة شؤون المرأة، والمكلفة برئاسة الوحدة التي تعنى بمتابعة تطبيق النظام في الوزارات الثلاث الصحة، الشؤون الاجتماعية والعدل، وفق ما ورد في النظام، فأشارت إلى أن وزارتها في مرحلة العمل على تطبيق نظام التحويل، حيث بدأت بتطبيق بعض أجزائه خاصة في القطاع المسؤول عن تقديم الخدمات الاجتماعية، والمتمثل بوزارة الشؤون الاجتماعية، لكن لم نصل بعد إلى مرحلة تطبيق كامل للنظام، ومع ذلك يعتبر هذا النظام إنجازا يضع الجميع على أول الطريق.
إنجازات
وأشارت إلى أنه تم حتى الآن تحقيق عدد من الإنجازات من أبرزها: إقرار خطة وآلية التطبيق، والشروع بتطبيقها، ثم تشكيل فريق من وزارات المرأة والصحة والشؤون الاجتماعية والشرطة، لوضع خطط تنفيذية لكل هذه الأطراف، إضافة إلى مراجعة الإجراءات الداخلية المطبقة في كل وزارة.
دليل إجراءات واضح وشامل
وقالت وفاء معمر، من وحدة حماية الأسرة في الشرطة الفلسطينية أن دليل إجراءات الشرطة المعمول به الآن في مواجهة العنف ضد النساء والحد منه، شامل وواضح. وقالت معمر" كوحدة حماية أسرة في الشرطة، نعمل في قضايا رئيسية لمواجهة العنف الأسري خاصة الموجه نحو الفتيات القاصرات، وأشارت إلى أن وحدة الحماية هذه تعمل في إحدى عشرة محافظة، وهي تتألف من 5-11 عضوا في كل محافظة، وأن دليل الإجراءات مطبق في الشرطة منذ أكثر من عام، ويشتمل على تقييم الخطورة لحالات النساء المعنفات، أي درجة الخطورة التي تعرضن لها.
وفيما يتعلق بالمعيقات، قالت معمر: كفريق في القطاعات الثلاث التي تعمل بصورة مشتركة، نواجه مشكلة تتمثل في أن فريقنا متغير وغير ثابت، ما يؤدي إلى تغيير الكادر باستمرار، وهذا ينعكس سلبا على أداء الفريق، وعدم وجود موازنات في الوزارات لتطبيق النظام، إضافة إلى ثقافة بعض القطاعات فيما يتعلق بمفهومها للعنف، وهو مفهوم العنف السائد محليا، وكذلك النقص في الكوادر لدى بعض الإدارات، وعدم وجود بنية تحتية في القطاعات الثلاث تمكنها من تطبيق النظام".
الدعم النفسي للمعنفات
بدوره، تحدث د. منذر عبد الله، وكيل وزارة العدل، فأكد على أهمية تقديم الدعم النفسي للنساء المعنفات، والحاجة إلى لوبي داعم وضاغط في هذا الاتجاه، محذرا من تغييب دور القضاء.
وفيما يتعلق بالمعيقات من وجهة نظر د. عبدالله، قال وكيل وزارة العدل" لعل أهم المعيقات، هو عدم الرغبة لدى النساء في التوجه إلى مراكز الشرطة لتقديم الشكاوى بخصوص العنف الممارس بحقهن، ما يستدعي تفعيل دور الإعلام في هذا الجانب، وكذلك تفعيل دور القانون في إنزال العقوبة المناسبة بمن يمارسون العنف". مؤكدا على ضرورة وجود آليات عمل ونظام لحماية المرأة. كما دعا إلى الضغط في موضوع القانون، حيث لا توجد نصوص قانونية تجرم المعنف بمقدار ما يستحقه من عقوبة، وضرورة رصد الموازنات وتخصيص الموارد من وزارات الاختصاص لتفعيل النظام.
وأكد وكيل وزارة العدل، على أهمية نشر الوعي في المجتمع الفلسطيني، وضرورة تطبيق القانون، ثم القيام بعملية التقييم والمتابعة ، مشيرا إلى أن إشكاليات التطبيق موجودة لدى كل القطاعات، داعيا المجلس التشريعي إلى أن يقوم بدوره في هذا الإطار.
رملاوي: التعنيف بحاجة إلى عناية صحية
من ناحيته استهل د. أسعد رملاوي، مدير عام الرعاية الصحية الأولية والصحة العامة في وزارة الصحة حديثه ، بالقول أن "عملية التعنيف تحتاج إلى عناية صحية، وبالتالي نحن نريد أن نتعامل مع الموضوع من الناحية الصحية الكاملة، ولا بد من موازنة لبرنامج تدريب واضح وشامل، ما يستوجب وجود برنامج وطني متكامل،وشدد على أهمية تعاون المجتمع المحلي مع هذا النظام.
التعاون بين الشرطة ووزارة الصحة
وأشار د. رملاوي إلى التعاون القائم بين وزارته والشرطة، وحرص الوزارة على تدريب جميع الطواقم الطبية والتمريضية في العيادات والمستشفيات.
كما تطرق إلى المفهوم الاجتماعي للعنف، وأسبابه، ودوافعه، ودعا إلى عدم اقتصاره على مفهوم العنف ضد المرأة. وقال" لقد بدأنا في وزارة الصحة بتطبيق نظام طب الأسرة والعائلة في عدة مناطق".
وفيما يتعلق بالمعيقات التي تواجه عمل وزارة الصحة بهذا الشأن، قال" نفتقر في الوزارة إلى عملية التوثيق، ولدينا إشكالية حقيقية في عملية المتابعة". وأضاف:"مع ذلك لدينا نظام رصد فعال، ويتم تحويل الحالات الخطرة وفق نظام خاص بما يعرف ب"بيوت الأمان".
وزارة الشؤون الاجتماعية: الدقة في تقييم الخطورة
بينما دعت مداخلة أخرى من قبل طاقم وزارة الشؤون الاجتماعية إلى الوضوح والدقة في تقييم خطورة الحالة من قبل الشركاء، ما يتطلب تدريب طواقمهم. وأشارت إلى أن وزارة الشؤون الاجتماعية، أعدت دليل إجراءات، وقواعد بيانات لا زال العمل فيه مستمرا، لكن هناك إشكاليات فنية.
إنشاء قاعدة بيانات وعدم إغفال قطاع غزة
وتساءل زياد يعيش مساعد ممثل صندوق الأمم المتحدة للسكان عن مكانة قطاع غزة من نظام التحويل، وقال" أين قطاع غزة من هذا النظام؟ وكيف يمكن تطبيقه في القطاع؟ وهل سيتم تدريب بعض أبناء القطاع على هذا النظام.؟
وأوصى يعيش بإنشاء قاعدة بيانات في فلسطين، كتلك الموجودة في الأردن، معتبرا ذلك واحدة من الأولويات التي يجب أن ينصب الجهد عليها، يمكن الرجوع إليها والاستفادة منها في متابعة حالات العنف، وماهية الإجراءات التي يمكن اتخاذها في كل حالة على حدة.
مجلس الوزراء: توطين الاتفاقيات الدولية
أما سجى الطراوي من مجلس الوزراء، فركزت في مداخلتها على ثلاث نقاط رئيسية، أولاها: توطين الاتفاقيات الدولية بما يتعلق بوصول النساء للأمن والعدل، وثانيها: التأكيد على الدور التنسيقي مع الشركاء، بما في ذلك التدخل التشريعي وتعميم هذا النظام، وثالثها متابعة النظام وتقييمه من خلال لجنة إشرافية.
في حين دعت د. جميلة ابو دحو، في مداخلة موجزة لها، إلى وجوب تحويل المرأة المعنفة حسب احتياجها هي. إذ قالت: "ليس كل حالة امرأة معنفة بحاجة إلى بيت آمن، لكن يمكن توجيهها إلى جهات أخرى".
تقييم الخطورة
وفي مداخلة له، أكد الرائد سفيان زحلان من الشرطة الفلسطينية في أريحا، على أن شروط البيوت الآمنة لا ينطبق عليها شروط حماية النساء المعنفات، مشيرا إلى رفض بعض هؤلاء النساء تحويلهن إلى بيوت آمنة، معتبرا أن تقييم الخطورة لكل حالة يعد تحديا حقيقيا.
وفي مداخلتها، قالت د. صباح.شرشير، مديرة الشؤون الاجتماعية في نابلس يجب أن يعمم قرار العمل على النظام والالتزام به من رأس هرم المؤسسة، وأن يتم تدريب الكوادر العاملة في الميدان، وإجراء تعديلات على النظام خاصة فيما يتعلق بالنساء المعنفات من ذوي الإعاقة، وأن يكون نظام التحويل الوطني نظاما الكترونيا.
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.
MIFTAH completes training workshop in the Gaza Strip on family protection and advocacy
Date posted: January 05, 2023
By MIFTAH
Gaza – 2/1/2023 – MIFTAH recently completed a training workshop on measures and regulations on family protection in the Gaza Strip. The workshop was part of MIFTAH’s strategic objectives to prioritize family issues in communities and to support local institutions in increasing awareness on citizenship and constitutional rights for Palestinian women and on combatting all forms of GBV and discrimination in Palestinian society.
The workshop’s objectives included providing institutions with important information on the legislations, laws and measures for family protection in effect in the Gaza Strip, in a bid to enhance the oversight role of CSOs in holding accountable official parties responsible for enforcing these measures and legislations. The training also included offering institutions the necessary mechanisms for managing digital and media campaigns to press for the ratification of laws and legislation that protect women’s rights.
The discussions focused on a number of points, including legal (including sharia law) rebuttals to claims from parties opposing legislation, including the Family Protection Law. They also discussed how applicable this law would be in the Gaza Strip once ratified by the President.
The participants unanimously agreed that they supported adoption of the law, giving no credence to the claims of more extreme elements in Gaza on the Family Protection Law. They called on MIFTAH to hold general, open meetings with the public to introduce them to the law and its importance, so that they could defend themselves from the extremist discourse surrounding it.
Opinions and impressions
One of the participants, Latifa Shatat, said such training workshops were crucial for every Palestinian, male and female. “It is great we are pressing for protection laws such as the Family Protection Bill. This law will have tremendous impact on society as a whole. I can say from experience as a social and mental health worker that protection is the most important element in our work, especially in cases involving women and children, who are the most vulnerable social sectors. I commend MIFTAH and anyone who participates in spreading a culture of nonviolence, protection, justice and equality.”
Meanwhile, Haifa Al Araj said the training offered important details about the Family Protection Law and also ways of conducting initiatives and activities that could produce positive results in mobilizing support it.
Another participant, Hatem Abu Ta’a, said the training was a new starting point for him as an institution director in terms of integrating the demand to implement the Family Protection Law in all advocacy and lobbying activities and programs. He said he became more aware of the impediments to the law’s implementation at the official and social level, saying, “This training reminds us to renew our calls to demand implementation and ratification of the law at the official level.”
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abu Rabee said ratification of the Family Protection Law would be a huge step, for women and children especially. “This law will amplify women’s voices and their ability to access help with stronger and more supportive centers throughout the homeland. As a strong supporter of this bill, I want to stress on the importance of civil society institutions explaining the clauses in the bill pertaining to CEDAW and to also focus on working with parties that oppose the law in particular.”
The training workshop is part of MIFTAH’s “Policy dialogue and Good Governance” Program, which aims at influencing public policies and legislation in favor of protection for citizens’ rights in Palestinian society, based on the principles of social justice and respect for human rights.
