MIFTAH recently capped off a series of public sessions in three districts: Nablus, Hebron and Bethlehem, in which the results of a factsheet prepared by MIFTAH on the gaps in the National Referral System for battered women with disabilities were presented and discussed. The objective of the sessions was to address recommendations to influence policy formulation and procedures related to the National Referral System, “Takamul”, especially for women and girls subject to gender-based violence with a focus on protecting and empowering women with disabilities. The sessions were attended by several official and civil society organizations in addition to persons with disabilities.
The factsheet showed the gaps in the system at several levels, most importantly the absence of a law that regulates the work of the National Referral System, whereby the one in place does not rise to the level of binding laws in spite of its ratification by the Cabinet; in addition, Article 29 in the system prohibits the reception of women and girls with disabilities (mental and motor) in protection centers and shelters. Also, the system’s buildings and spaces are not compatible, which hinders the access of women with disabilities to services, in addition to the lack of service-providers capable of communicating with women with disabilities, especially the hearing and visually impaired. Moreover, there is a decrease in the level of awareness and cognitive empowerment among women with disabilities regarding their rights.
The participants showed special interest in the factsheet’s data and findings regarding the situation of women with disabilities and on ways to provide protection and support for them.
In this context, Narmin Al Koni from Nablus said in her evaluation of the session: “We expect the paper’s results will have an impact by raising awareness on the issue of women with disabilities and on ways to deal with them at the official and community levels and that some of our demands will be taken into consideration such as: women with disabilities must be included in the National Referral System; the rehabilitation of professional teams in the various ministries and institutions that deal with disabled persons and their training on how to deal with this sector of women; adaptation of spaces, reception rooms and shelters to be accessible and compatible with the needs and requirements of women with disabilities; and the need to handle cases that receive assistance with confidentiality.”
Samer Al Natsheh from Hebron, said: “The fact sheet included things that we, as disabled persons, did not know about; we were astonished by the data, which we didn’t expect.” He continued, “I think it is imperative that we benefit from the factsheet and its findings and that all relevant parties cooperate to implement the recommendations and work towards raising public awareness on them.”
MIFTAH project coordinator Hanan Said maintained that the sessions are part of the project, “Inclusive Action in GBV Programing in Emergencies”, which MIFTAH implements with support from the International Rescue Committee (IRC). It is also part of MIFTAH’s strategic approaches in promoting a legislativeenviornment and influencing public policies to safeguarding of citizens’ rights. She said MIFTAH works towards promoting women’s access to protection services by fostering the dialogue on the “Takamul” national referral system. In this context, she said in 2019, MIFTAH conducted a survey on the gaps in the National Referral System, to what extent it is being implemented and the challenges it faces, which impact its operational procedures and hinder women’s access to protection services.
These sessions are considered a continuation of MIFTAH’s approaches in pressing for adequate implementation of the system and the need to advocate towards the inclusion of an additional protocol that guarantees protection for battered women, especially women and girls with disabilities.
'مفتاح' تختتم مناقشة نتائج ورقة الحقائق حول فجوات نظام التحويل الوطني للنساء المعنّفات من ذوات الإعاقة
تاريخ النشر: 13/02/2020
بقلم: مفتاح
اختتمت المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" مؤخرا سلسلة من الجلسات العامة في ثلاث من محافظات نابلس، الخليل، وبيت لحم، تم خلالها عرض ومناقشة نتائج ورقة الحقائق التي أعدتها مفتاح حول فجوات نظام التحويل الوطني للنساء المعنّفات من ذوات الإعاقة، بهدف الخروج بتوصيات للتأثير في السياسات والإجراءات الخاصة بنظام التحويل الوطني للنساء المعنفات (تكامل)، وخاصة النساء والفتيات المعرّضات للعنف المبني على النوع الاجتماعي، وبالتركيز على حماية وتمكين النساء ذوات الإعاقة، بحضور ومشاركة عدد من المؤسسات الرسمية ومؤسسات المجتمع المدني، بالإضافة إلى مشاركة بعض الحالات من ذوات الاعاقة.
وكانت ورقة الحقائق قد بينت فجوات في النظام على عدة مستويات، أهمها عدم وجود قانون ينظم عمل نظام التحويل الوطني للنساء المعنفات، حيث لا يرقى إلى مصاف القوانين الملزمة بالرغم من اقراره من مجلس الوزراء، ووجود نص المادة )29) في النظام، والتي تحظر استقبال النساء والفتيات ذوات الاعاقة ( الذهنية والحركية) في مراكز الحماية وبيوت الأمان ، بالإضافة لعدم مواءمة مباني الشركاء في النظام مما يعيق وصول النساء ذوات الاعاقة للحصول على الخدمات، وعدم توفر مقدمي خدمات قادرين على التواصل مع النساء ذوات الاعاقة، خاصة الاعاقة السمعية والبصرية. أضف الى ذلك، انخفاض نسبة الوعي والتمكين المعرفي لدى النساء ذوات الاعاقة بحقوقهن.
من ناحيتهم أبدى المشاركون والمشاركات في الجلسات اهتماماً خاصاً بما تضمنته الورقة من إحصائيات ومعطيات تتعلق بواقع النساء ذوات الإعاقة وسبل توفير الحماية والدعم لهنّ.
وفي هذا السياق، قالت نرمين الكوني من نابلس في تقييمها للجلسة: "نتوقع أن يكون نشر نتائج هذه الورقة، له تاثير من خلال رفع الوعي بقضية النساء ذوات الإعاقة وكيفية التعامل معهن على المستوى الرسمي والشعبي، والأخذ ببعض مطالبنا، وأهمها: ضرورة إدراج النساء ذوات الإعاقة ضمن نظام التحويل الوطني، وتأهيل طواقم مهنية لدى مختلف الوزارات والمؤسسات التي تتعامل مع ذوات الإعاقة وتدريبها على كيفية التعامل مع هذه الفئة من النساء، ومواءمة الأماكن، وغرف الاستقبال وبيوت الأمان مع احتياجات ومتطلبات النساء ذوات الاعاقة، والتعامل بسرية مع الحالات التي تتلقى المساعدة".
في حين، قال سامر النتشة من مدينة الخليل – الذي شارك في جلسة النقاش -، إن الدراسة تضمنت أموراً لم نكن نعلم بها كذوي إعاقة، وبالتالي ما تضمنته من معطيات أذهلتنا، ولم نتوقعها. وقال:" أرى من الضرورة الاستفادة العالية من ورقة الحقائق ومن معطياتها، والتعاون بين جميع الجهات ذات الاختصاص لتنفيذ ما ورد فيها من توصيات، والعمل على رفع الوعي الشعبي بمخرجاتها".
بدورها، أشارت حنان سعيد منسقة المشروع في "مفتاح"، إلى أن هذه الجلسات تأتي ضمن مشروع "التأهب والاستجابة للعنف المبني على النوع الاجتماعي في حالات الطوارئ، والذي تنفذه "مفتاح" بدعم من لجنة الانقاذ الدولية ( IRC) .International Rescue Committee كما تأتي ضمن التوجهات الاستراتيجية ل"مفتاح" في تعزيز البيئة التشريعية والتأثير في السياسات العامة بما يحقق حماية حقوق المواطنة للجميع، حيث تعمل "مفتاح" على تعزيز وصول النساء للحماية من خلال فتح باب الحوار حول نظام التحويل الوطني الخاص بالنساء المعنفات (تكامل). وفي هذا الإطار نفذت "مفتاح" خلال العام المنصرم 2019 مسحاً لفجوات نظام التحويل الوطني، ومدى إنفاذه، والتحديات التي تواجه النظام، والتي تؤثر على الإجراءات التنفيذية وتعيق وصول النساء إلى خدمات الحماية، وتعتبر هذه الجلسات استكمال لتوجهات مؤسسة "مفتاح" بالضغط باتجاه إنفاذ النظام وا ضرورة الضغط باتجاه الحاق بروتوكول اضافي يضمن توفير حماية للنساء المعنفات وخاصة النساء والفتيات ذوات الاعاقة.
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.
