As part of the project “Supporting leadership roles in Local Government Units”, implemented in partnership with GIZ, MIFTAH recently targeted Palestinian university students, holding seminars in various Palestinian universities. This project is aimed at encouraging the political participation of women and influencing towards gender-responsive decision-making mechanisms in LGUs. The objective of the seminars, which were facilitated by MIFTAH field coordinators, was to encourage the students to participate in the democratic process and decision-making. During these sessions, women LGU members talked about their experiences in the election process and their role as women, including lessons learned. The seminars also entailed a presentation on the Local Council Elections Law and material pertaining to the candidacy age and electoral lists system, with the participation of the Central Election Committee in the following districts: Jenin, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Ramallah, Jerusalem and Nablus.
Hebron University
At Hebron University, 185 students came to the meeting in which municipality members Jihad Ratrout from Samou’ Municipality and Abla Faroukh from Saeer presented. The women council members talked about the experience of Palestinian women in local council elections, stressing on the pioneer role which women could play if they are in decision-making positions. They talked about their experience and the challenges they faced and how this reflected on their aspirations to go through the experience again and to move into new posts and decision-making positions.
Furthermore, Hebron University President Dr. Salah Zaro stressed on the importance of such extracurricular activities, commending the role of MIFTAH and the departments of law and social sciences in this activity. Zaro pointed out that elections were one facet of democracy, which could not succeed without reinforcing the democratic principle of peaceful transfer of power.
President of the university’s law school, Mutaz Qafisheh talked about the philosophy of elections and presented a brief history of elections in Palestine. He also addressed the factors of success for any elections including the development of cultural and education levels, the economic situation and the agreement over the principle of the rule of law and peaceful transfer of power. He touched on the promotion of women and their participation in decision-making, overcoming blind patriarchal, tribal, factional and territorial thinking and the exploitation of religion in politics. He indicated to the need to understand the social-political context of elections in Palestine and the formulation of a conciliatory electoral system that guarantees that no one faction takes control of authority.
CEC director in Hebron, Hatem Sa’afin then spoke about the lists system and candidacy age in elections and gave a presentation on the experiences of certain counties and several legislative and municipal elections in Palestine.
Meanwhile, viewpoints varied on lowering the rate of candidacy; the participants called for lobbying and advocacy campaigns to lower the age of candidacy to 23, that is, after students have completed their university education and have therefore increased their experience in public life and social integration. They would hence be more able to network with youth and social leaders.
The participants also discussed the women’s quota. The majority of students insisted on raising the quota to 30%.
In regards to the elections system, disputes arose over this system. Some felt that the system protects the bigger factions in order to increase their representation. Others confirmed that the individual and lists system should be carried out in the next stage so that there is fairer distribution and encouragement for independents to run.
Al Quds University / Abu Dis
At Al Quds University/Abu Dis, students from various disciplines participated in the study circle along with two local council members, Arij Riziq from Beit Fourik council and Nasra Qabalani from the Bir Nabala town council. A total of 110 students and lectures were also in attendance.
The meeting included a discussion of women’s political participation with the aim of developing, prompting, raising awareness and educating university students and encouraging them to participate in the democratic and decision-making process. Based on this, a presentation was given on the experience of women members in the district in the elections both before and after the quota system was approved. They also spoke about the obstacles they faced during the elections or when appointed.
The students were mostly interactive on the subject of lowering the candidacy age for local council, legislative and presidential elections. 60% of them stressed on the importance of lowering the age of candidacy for presidential and legislative elections in order to allow the opportunity for youths to wage the political competition. A number of female participants also expressed their desire to run in elections after hearing the experiences of the council members.
Meanwhile, 70% of the students confirmed the importance of showcasing these experiences in universities, including the experiences of the female council members who were part of structural planning and infrastructure committees, tenders and economic committees and budget and projects committees. That is, their role should not be confined to women and children committees.
Al Najah University
At Al Najah University, the study circle was held in the mock court in coordination between the law school, public relations and the CEC, with 67 students in attendance. At the meeting were local council members Ahlam Khudeir from the town of Jamaeen and Zahira Asous from Bourin, along with Mahmoud Masimi, director of the CEC office in Nablus, Dr. Sana’ Sarghali from the law department and Afnan Sayed from public relations.
Dr. Sarghali confirmed to the students the importance of this seminar, saying it was an integral part of the study of constitutional law, pointing to its significance in their political lives and citizenry.
Mahmoud Masimi then gave a comprehensive presentation on the elections committee, the electoral lists system and the age of candidacy. He also presented on the experiences of other countries and several legislative and municipal election experiences in Palestine in addition to the voting process, election campaigns and monitoring.
Ahlam then spoke about her experience and the electoral lists system, which initially posed an obstacle to her candidacy. However, she maintained, her insistence on running in the elections forced the formation of a list in which she was included, adding that if there had been a constituency system, this would have made matters easier.
Municipal council member Zahira also shared her experience and talked about the importance of the women’s quota system in elections, especially in villages where women are not allowed to run in local council elections. She stressed on the pioneer role which women could play in decision-making positions.
In terms of the elections law and the proportional representation lists, the participants said the law was unfair against independents who wanted to run alone without being on factional or familial lists. This means the candidate must put additional effort into forming independent lists and must sometimes accept people for this reason alone.
The speakers recommended that pressure be put towards changing the law into constituencies or open lists, and demanding political parties to work towards training and raising awareness among youths so they could qualify to run.
The participants furthermore considered the women’s quota the easiest way for women to reach decision-making positions, but said it was necessary that active and qualified women were chosen for these slots. They also said efforts must be made to increase their representation in elections laws, noting that most factions signed this increase of women’s participation to 30%, while lists still maintain it at 20%.
Arab-American University in Jenin
MIFTAH’s Jenin coordinator Farha Abul Hayja’ said the seminar at the Arab-American University in Jenin targeted over 80 students who had no prior information or experience about elections. Hence, the speakers stressed on the need to raise awareness about elections and the participation of youth in these elections as candidates and voters. They said youth should not remain just numbers that graduate from universities without having any role in the change process.
The participants were in agreement over the need for serious efforts with youth. This includes involving them in wide-scale awareness processes in order to create a change in the significance of their role in political and social life where their role is not only limited to being university graduates without having any role in the change and development process in Palestinian society. They also recommended that a meeting is held with university administrations to discuss and pressure towards the possibility of introducing a course on political participation in the university syllabus.
Abul Hayja’ pointed out that the seminar encouraged the university administration to organize more similar seminars with the aim of raising the awareness of students and encouraging them to participate in more activities. She also said it motivated some students to participate in meetings outside the university to discuss the subject of candidacy age. They added that radio and television programs should be held in which youths who support the idea of participating in elections are hosted. Additionally, radio and television spots, they maintained, could focus on the importance of participating in the democratic process, on the elections law and the means by which registration and candidacy processes are conducted.
MIFTAH held other seminars in various Palestinian universities in Jericho, Tulkarm and Ramallah in which several active women council members participated. They also shared their experiences in the election process and the challenges they faced as decision-makers within their local councils. These seminars hosted groups of students to motivate them to become more involved in the elections, which are a clear example of the principle of peaceful transfer of power. Their role was also encouraged in terms of political participation, women especially, and in supporting women’s involvement in the decision-making process.
بمشاركة عضوات مجالس بلدية وقروية:
اختتام سلسلة حلقات دراسية لطلاب وطالبات في الجامعات الفلسطينية ضمن مشروع 'دعم الدور القيادي داخل مجالس الهيئات المحلية'
تاريخ النشر: 30/05/2016
بقلم: مفتاح
ضمن مشروع "دعم الدور القيادي للنساء داخل مجالس الهيئات المحلية" الذي تنفذه المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" بالشراكة مع التعاون الألماني GIZ بهدف تحفيز المشاركة السياسية للمرأة، والتأثير بآليات صنع القرار داخل مجالس الهيئات المحلية بشكل تعزز استجابتها لقضايا النوع الاجتماعي، استهدفت "مفتاح" مؤخرا طلبة الجامعات الفلسطينية بالتوعية والتثقيف بهدف تشجيعهم على المشاركة في العملية الديمقراطية واتخاذ القرار، عبر حلقات دراسية عقدت في الجامعات الفلسطينية المختلفة مؤخرا، أدارتها منسقات "مفتاح" في الميدان، وعرضت من خلالها عضوات الهيئات المحلية تجاربهن في العملية الانتخابية ودورهن كنساء داخل الهيئات المحلية، والعبر المستفادة منها. كما تضمنت الحلقات الدراسية عرضا لقانون انتخابات الهيئات المحلية، والمواد ذات العلاقة بسن الترشح ونظام القوائم، بمشاركة مكاتب لجنة الانتخابات المركزية في محافظات: جنين، وبيت لحم، والخليل، وأريحا والأغوار، ورام الله، والقدس، ونابلس.
جامعة الخليل
ففي جامعة الخليل، حضره 185طالبا وطالبة في لقاء، شاركت فيه عضوتا المجلس البلدي جهاد الرطروط من بلدية السموع، وعبله الفروخ من بلدية سعير، حيث تحدثتا عن التجربة النسائية الفلسطينية في انتخابات مجالس الهيئات المحلية، وشددتا على الدور الريادي الذي يمكن أن تلعبه المرأة إذا وجدت في أماكن صنع القرار. واستعرضتا من خلال حديثهما واقع تلك التجربة والتحديات التي واجهتاها، وانعكاس ذلك على طموحهن في خوض التجربة من جديد، والانتقال إلى مواقع ومراكز صنع قرار جديدة.
في حين أكد الدكتور صلاح الزرو رئيس الجامعة، على أهمية عقد مثل هذه الأنشطة اللامنهجية، وثمن دور مؤسسة مفتاح، وكلية الحقوق والعلوم السياسية على هذا النشاط النوعي، منوها إلى أن الانتخابات هي أحد مظاهر الديمقراطية، ولا يمكن إنجاحها إلا من خلال تعزيز المبدأ الديمقراطي في التداول السلمي للسلطة.
وتطرق معتز قفيشه رئيس كلية الحقوق في الجامعة، عن فلسفة الانتخابات، وقدم نبذة تاريخية عن الانتخابات في فلسطين. كما تطرق إلى عوامل نجاح الانتخابات، بما في ذلك تطوير مستوى الثقافة والتعليم، وتقارب الوضع الاقتصادي، والاتفاق على مبدأ سيادة القانون والتداول السلمي للسلطة، وتعزيز دور المرأة ومشاركتها في صنع القرار، والتغلب على الفكر الأبوي والعشائرية والفصائلية والمناطقية العمياء واستغلال الدين في السياسة. وأشار إلى ضرورة فهم السياق السياسي والاجتماعي للانتخاب في فلسطين ووضع نظام انتخابي توافقي يضمن عدم سيطرة فصيل واحد على زمام السلطة.
واستعرض حاتم السعافين مدير لجنة الانتخابات بمحافظة الخليل نظام القوائم وسن الترشح في الانتخابات، وقدم عرضا لتجارب بعض الدول، ولعدد من التجارب الانتخابية التشريعية والبلدية في فلسطين.
وفيما تباينت الآراء حول تخفيض سن الترشح، دعا المشاركون الى حملات ضغط ومناصرة لتخفيض سن الترشح حتى 23 عاما، يكون الطالب خلالها قد أنهى المرحلة التعليمية الجامعية، وزادت خبرته في الحياة العامة، واندماجه بالمجتمع، واصبح قادرا على التشبيك مع الشباب والقيادات المجتمعية.
كما تم التطرق إلى نظام الكوتا النسوية، حيث كان هناك ميل باتجاه الكوتا، في حين اصر العدد الاكبر من الطلاب المشاركين على رفع نسبة الكوتا الى 30 بالمئة.
وفيما يتعلق بنظام الانتخابات، برزت خلافات حول هذا النظام. فمنهم من رأى أن هذا النظام يحمي الاحزاب الكبيرة لزيادة نسبة تمثيلها، ومنهم من أكد على أن النظام الفردي والقوائم ان يتم عليه بالمرحلة القادمة، ليكون هناك عدالة في التوزيع وتشجيع المستقلين على الترشح.
جامعة القدس أبو ديس
وفي جامعة القدس، أبو ديس عقدت الحلقة الدراسية، بحضور طلبة من الجامعة بمختلف التخصصات، بمشاركة عضوتا المجلس البلدي أريج رزق من بلدية بيت لقيا، ونصرة قبلاني من بلدية بير نبالا، حضره 110 طالب وطالبة ومحاضرين.
وتضمنت الحلقة الدراسية مناقشة محاور المتعلقة بالمشاركة السياسية للمرأة، بهدف تطوير وتفعيل وتوعية وتثقيف الطلبة الجامعيين، وتشجيعهم على المشاركة في العملية الديمقراطية واتخاذ القرار، وعليه تم عرض تجربة العضوات المشاركات من المحافظة حول خوضهن للانتخابات ما قبل اقرار نظام الكوتا وبعدها، وطرح العقبات التي واجهتهن خلال الانتخابات أو من خلال التعيين.
واظهر الطلبة تفاعل عالي لدى طرح موضوع خفض سن الترشح للهيئات المحلية و للانتخابات التشريعية والرئاسية، وأكد 60 % منهم اهمية خفض سن الترشح للرئاسة والتشريعي لإتاحة الفرصة امام الشباب لخوض المعركة السياسية. وعبرت عدد من المشاركات عن رغبتهن بتجربة الترشح وخوض التجربة بعد سماع تجارب العضوات في الانتخابات
فيما أكد 70% من الطلبة على أهمية عرض مثل هذه التجارب التعليمية بالجامعات لما لها من عرض خبرات وتجارب العضوات لا سيما داخل المجالس المحلية من خلال وجودهن بلجان التخطيط الهيكلي والبنى التحتية ولجان العطاءات واللجان الاقتصادية واعداد والمشاريع والموازنة، بحيث لا يقتصر دورها فقط على لجان المرأة والطفل.
جامعة النجاح
أما في جامعة النجاح بنابلس، فقد نظمت الحلقة الدراسية في المحكمة الصورية بالتعاون مع كلية القانون والعلاقات العامة والحقوق ولجنة الانتخابات المركزية، بحضور 67 طالبا وطالبة، ومشاركة عضوتا المجلس البلدي، احلام الخضير من بلدة جماعين، وزهيرة عسعوس من قريه بورين، ومحمود المسيمي مدير مكتب لجنه الانتخابات في محافظه نابلس، والدكتورة سناء سرغلي من كليه القانون، وافنان السيد من العلاقات العامة.
واكدت الدكتورة سناء للطلاب على اهمية هذه الحلقة الدراسية، مشيرة إلى أنها جزء لا يتجزأ في دراسة القانون الدستوري واهميتها في حياتهم السياسية والمواطنة.
وقدم محمود المسيمي عرضا شاملا عن لجنة الانتخابات، ونظام القوائم وسن الترشح في الانتخابات، كما قدم عرضا لتجارب بعض الدول، ولعدد من التجارب الانتخابية التشريعية والبلدية في فلسطين، وعملية الاقتراع والدعاية الانتخابية والرقابة.
وتحدثت احلام عن تجربتها، وعن نظام القوائم الذي كان عائقا في ترشحها في البداية ولكن بسبب اصرارها على خوض الانتخابات اضطرت الى تشكيل قائمة لخوض الانتخابات فلو كان هناك نظام دوائر لكان اسهل لها.
فيما تحدثت العضو زهيرة، عن تجربتها في الانتخابات، وأهمية الكوتا النسوية في الانتخابات، خاصة في القرى التي لا تسمح للنساء بالترشح للهيئات المحلية، وشددت على الدور الريادي الذي يمكن أن تلعبه المرأة في أماكن صنع القرار.
وفيما يتعلق بقانون الانتخابات- القوائم التمثيل النسبي، قال المشاركون، ان هذا القانون مجحف بحق الافراد المستقلين، والذين يريدون ترشيح انفسهم دون التواجد في قوائم حزبية أو عائلية، ما يتطلب جهدا من المرشح في تشكيل قوائم مستقلة، وفي بعض الأحيان القبول بأشخاص لاعتبارات تشكيل القائمة فقط.
وأوصى المتحدثون بالضغط باتجاه تغيير القانون الى دوائر أو قوائم مفتوحة، ومطالبة الاحزاب السياسية بالعمل على توعية وتدريب الشباب حتى يكونوا مؤهلين للترشح.
وفيما يتعلق بالكوتا النسائية، اعتبرها المشاركون أسهل الطرق لوصول المرأة الى مراكز صنع القرار مع ضرورة اختيار النساء الفاعلات وذوات الكفاءة. والعمل على رفع تمثيلهن في قوانين الانتخابات، علما بأن معظم الفصائل وقعت على زيادة التمثيل للنساء الى 30 % ، ولكن في القوائم ما زالت 20% .
الجامعة العربية الأميركية جنين
تقول فرحة أبو الهيجا، منسقة "مفتاح" في جنين، أن اللقاء الذي عقد في الجامعة العربية الأميركية في جنين، استهدف أكثر من 80 طالبا وطالبة، ممن لم يكن لديهم أية معلومات أو خبرة عن موضوع الانتخابات، حيث أكد المتحدثون على ضرورة التوعية في موضوع الانتخابات، ومشاركة الشباب في الانتخابات كمرشحين وكناخبين، وأن لا يبقوا مجرد أرقام يتم تخريجها من الجامعات دون أن يكون لها دور في عملية التغيير.
وأجمع المشاركون على ضرورة العمل الجاد والمكثف مع الشباب واستهدافهم في عمليات توعية واسعة ومختلفة من اجل خلق نوع من التغيير في اهمية دورهم في الحياة السياسية والاجتماعية بحيث لا يقتصر دورهم على انهم مجرد طلاب يتخرجون من الجامعات بدون أي دور لهم في عملية التغيير والتنمية في المجتمع الفلسطيني، والضغط على ادارة الجامعة من خلال عقد اجتماع يتم فيه مناقشة امكانية ادخال مساق المشاركة السياسية بحيث تصبح كمادة تدرس للطلبة.
وأشارت أبو الهيجا إلى أن اللقاء استهدف مجموعة من الطلاب الذين يفتقرون الى المعلومات وليس لديهم ثقافة المشاركة في الانتخابات، ما شجع ادارة الجامعة على تنظيم حلقات ولقاءات بهدف التوعية ورفع مستوى مشاركتهم في كافة الانشطة والفعاليات، وحفز بعض الطلبة على المشاركة في حال تم عقد لقاءات خارج اطار الجامعة لمناقشة موضوع سن الترشح، وضرورة عقد حلقات اذاعية وتلفزيونية يتم فيها استضافة مجموعة من الشباب الذين يؤيدون فكرة المشاركة في الانتخابات، وعمل سبوتات اذاعية وتلفزيونية تركز على اهمية المشاركة في العملية الديمقراطية، والتركيز على قانون الانتخابات، والكيفية التي تتم بها عملية التسجيل والترشح.
وكانت "مفتاح" عقدت حلقات دراسية اخرى في الجامعات الفلسطينية المختلفة في محافظة اريحا وطولكرم ورام الله بمشاركة عدد من العضوات الفاعلات في المناطق المختلفة لراوية قصصهن في خوض العملية الانتخابية والتحديات التي توجههن كصانعات قرار داخل الهيئات المحلية وبمرافقة ممثلي لجنة الانتخابات المركزية في المناطق لتقديم الشرح الوافي حول قانون الانتخابات ونظام القوائم والكوتا. واستهدفت الحلقات مجموعات من الطلبة لتوعيتهم وتحفيزهم بالانخراط بالانتخابات باعتبارها صورة واضحة لمبدا التداول السلمي للسطلة، وتعزيز دورهم من خلال التأكيد على اهمية المشاركة السياسية وخاصة للمرأة ودعم انخراط النساء في عملية صنع القرار.
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.
