Community activists Tahani from Nilin and Kifah from Aqaba near Tubas, in addition to head of Kufr Nimeh’s local council Ihsan Nasr, all participated in one of a series of trainings carried out by MIFTAH on “Mechanisms for decision-making inside local councils from a gender perspective.” And they all have something to say.
Promoting participation in decision-making
The trainings, which were conducted in several districts including Ramallah, are part of MIFTAH’s overall interest in promoting Palestinian women’s participation in the decision-making process at the local and community levels. They were aimed at promoting the capabilities of women who want to nominate themselves for members of local councils in 2016. This will enable them to use the decision-making mechanisms within local councils as elected members in the future as part of the project “Supporting leadership roles for women inside local councils” which MIFTAH implements in partnership with GIZ. The training targeted 24 women local council members and activists, with the aim of providing a supportive climate for joint interaction within local councils, to support the role of women and its importance in local development and decision-making.
Rich information
Tahani Orabi, who is a member of the community rehabilitation program and the shadow council for Nilin’s village council members, said the training enriched her knowledge and strengthened her character. It also offered her additional networking with her colleagues and members in other local councils and in community organizations.
Tahani continued that the training constituted an ongoing education that built her experience and knowledge and has had a positive impact on her work, whether in the community rehabilitation program or in the shadow council. Her colleagues, she maintained, were eager to learn more from her experience and develop their capabilities.
Strengthening capacities
Meanwhile, Kifah Akram from Aqaba, who is a university graduate, volunteer in several local councils and member of the Aqaba local council, said the training strengthened her capabilities in writing projects and choosing the best ones for her village, through determining needs and priorities. She also said the participation of her colleagues in the same training allowed her to learn about other people’s experiences and offer her own as well.
Added value
Kufr Nimeh local council head Ihsan Nasr agrees with both women. “The entire training was added value. The last training we participated in was different from the ones before them because it introduced us to our roles as heads of local councils in terms of involving as many people as possible in making decisions, with input from each individual.” He added that the training course opened their eyes to broader elements of society, including youths, girls and special needs individuals, which helped them be a bigger part of the decision making process since they now had a better understanding of social issues, needs and priorities. “We realized we are not the only ones in this society, which is important since we are in a position of serving citizens. This has allowed us to take more sound and much better decisions about the projects and programs we want to implement and has broadened our options, alternatives and potentials,’ Nasr said.
Effective integration
Gender expert Fida’ Barghouti, who has overseen MIFTAH’s trainings since December, illustrated the concept of decision-making and its mechanisms to the participants, in addition to showing them ways of making gender-responsive decisions in the field of local councils . This, she did through a methodology aimed at motivating more participation from citizens, both male and female, in making decisions, through increased active integration between local sectors and more local participation in local councils.
MIFTAH project director Najwa Yaghi said that as part of MIFTAH’s support for the role of women leaders in local councils, the organization will launch its guidebook on mechanisms for decision making within local councils from a gender perspective within the first quarter of 2016. It’s aim, she maintained, was to support and encourage women in local bodies to become more involved in decision-making circles within these councils.
شاركوا في ورشة تدريبية ل'مفتاح'..
ناشطتان مجتمعيتان ورئيس مجلس محلي يروون تجربتهم المستفادة من مشاركتهم في تدريب 'آليات اتخاذ القرارات داخل المجالس المحلية من منظور النوع الاجتماعي'
تاريخ النشر: 27/01/2016
بقلم: مفتاح
لكل من تهاني من نعلين وكفاح من قرية العقبة قرب طوباس، وهما ناشطتان مجتمعيتان، وكذلك الحال بالنسبة لإحسان وهو رئيس مجلس محلي كفر نعمة، دافع وحكاية من مشاركة الثلاثة في واحد من سلسلة تدريبات نفذتها المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" حول "آليات اتخاذ القرار داخل مجالس الهيئات المحلية من منظور النوع الاجتماعي".
تعزيز المشاركة في صنع القرار
جاءت سلسلة التدريبات هذه، والتي نفذت في مختلف محافظات الوطن وكان آخرها في محافظة رام الله، في إطار اهتمام المبادرة "مفتاح"، بتعزيز مشاركة النساء الفلسطينيات في صنع القرار على المستوى المحلي والمجتمعي، وبهدف تعزيز قدرات النساء اللواتي يمتلكن الرغبة للترشح لعضوية مجالس الهيئات المحلية للعام 2016، وتمكينهن من استخدام آليات اتخاذ القرار داخل مجالس الهيئات المحلية كعضوات منتخبات مستقبلاً، ضمن مشروع "دعم الدور القيادي للنساء داخل مجالس الهيئات المحلية" الذي تنفذّه مفتاح بالشراكة مع التعاون الألمانيGIZ ، واستهدف في ورشة التدريب التي عقدت برام الله 24 عضوة وعضوة جلهم من النساء، وكان الهدف منه المساهمة في توفير بيئة داعمة للتفاعل المشترك داخل الهيئات المحلية، مما يدعم دور النساء وأهميته في التنمية المحلية وصنع القرار.
إثراء للمعلومات
بالنسبة لتهاني عرابي المنضوية في برنامج التأهيل المجتمعي والمجلس المساند لعضوات مجلس بلدية نعلين، فقد أثرى التدريب الأخير من معلوماتها، وأغنى ذاتها وأضاف إلى قوة شخصيتها قوة أخرى، عدا ما حققه من تشبيك مع زميلات وزملاء أعضاء في مجالس محلية أخرى، وفي هيئات مجتمعية ناشطة.
ترى تهاني أيضا، أن ما تلقته خلال التدريب هو بمثابة تعليم مستمر يضاعف من الخبرة والمعرفة، وينعكس في آثاره على عملها سواء في برنامج التأهيل المجتمعي حيث تعمل، أو في مجلس الظل، حيث ستنقل تجربتها إلى آخرين يتوقون لمزيد من المعرفة والخبرة وتطوير القدرات.
تعزيز القدرات
في حين تعتقد كفاح أكرم طالب من قرية العقبة بمحافظة طوباس، وهي خريجة جامعية، ومتطوعة في عدة مجالس محلية، عدا عضويتها في مجلس محلي العقبة، أن التدريب الذي تلقته عزز قدراتها في كتابة المشاريع واختيار الأفضل والأنسب لقريتها وتحديد الاحتياجات والأولويات، وهذا بالنسبة إليها يشكل إضافة مهمة. في حين أن مشاركة زميلات وزملاء لها في ذات التدريب طور من خبرتها، ومكنها من التعارف على تجارب آخرين يمكن الاستفادة منها وتبادل الخبرات معها.
إضافة نوعية
يتفق مع تهاني وكفاح فيما قالتاه، إحسان نصر رئيس المجلس المحلي لقرية كفر نعمة بمحافظة رام الله. يقول إحسان:" كل تدريب يشكل إضافة نوعية. والتدريب الأخير الذي شاركنا فيه اختلف عن سابقاته من تدريبات لأنه عرفنا بأدوارنا كرؤساء مجالس محلية من ناحية إشراك أكبر عدد ممكن في اتحاذ القرارات ومساهمة كل واحد في طرح أفكاره". أضاف:" لقد فتح التدريب مداركنا ووسعها نحو مكونات مجتمع من شباب وفتيات، ومن ذوي احتياجات خاصة كي نكون جزءا من اتخاذ القرار. وبالتالي ستصبح نظرتنا للواقع أفضل، من حيث قضايا مجتمعنا واحتياجاته وأولوياته، وبأننا لسنا الوحيدين في هذا المجتمع خاصة ونحن على رأس مهمة تخدم المواطنين، ما يمكننا من اتخاذ أصوب القرارات وأفضلها حين نقرر أي المشاريع والبرامج نريد تنفيذها، ويعزز الخيارات والبدائل والإمكانيات والفرص الأخرى.
الاندماج الفعال
كانت فداء البرغوثي خبيرة النوع الاجتماعي، والتي تشرف على سلسلة التدريبات التي تنفذها مفتاح منذ كانون الأول استعرضت للمشاركات والمشاركين فيه، مفهوم القرارات وآلية اتخاذها، وطرق اتخاذ قرارات مستجيبة للنوع الاجتماعي في مجال الهيئات المحلية والتجارب والخبرات في هذا الجانب، من خلال استخدام منهجيات هادفة لتحفيز المزيد من مشاركة المواطنين والمواطنات في اتخاذ القرارات، من خلال المزيد من الاندماج الفعال بين الفئات المحلية بالمزيد من المشاركة المحلية في الهيئات المحلية، وتجدر الاشارة بأن مفتاح ستطلق دليلها الارشادي حول آليات اتخاذ القرار داخل مجالس الهيئات المحلية من منظور النوع الاجتماعي خلال 2016.
فيما اضافت نجوى ياغي مديرة المشاريع لدى "مفتاح" استكمالاً للدعم الذي تنفذه "مفتاح" في اطار دعم الدور القيادي للنساء داخل الهيئات المحلية سيتم طلاق دليل ارشادي متخصص يتناول بشكل سلس وآليات اتخاذ القرار داخل مجالس الهيئات المحلية من منظور النوع الاجتماعي خلال الربع الاول من العام 2016.يهدف الى مساندة النساء داخل الهيئات المحلية في الانخراط بثبات في حلقات اتخاذ القرارات داخل الهيئة المحلية.
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.
