Ramallah – MIFTAH, in partnership with the General Union of Palestinian Women and in coordination with the Women’s Coalition for Resolution 1325 in Palestine, held a workshop on September 13 and 14 to develop strategic approaches for lobbying and advocacy and to determine the local and international mechanisms to render Resolution 1325 and other relevant resolutions compatible with the Palestinian context and the status of Palestinian women under Israeli occupation.
The objective of the meeting was to draw up the second strategic plan for 2020-2023, which comes in tandem with the second generation’s preparation of the Palestinian National Action Plan for UNSCR 1325, overseen by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
MIFTAH Executive Director Dr. Tahreer Araj, opened the workshop, pointing to MIFTAH’s approach towards developing a lobbying and advocacy strategy for Resolution 1325 Coalition in line with national effort to expand participation in preparing a plan that would include Palestinian women from refugee host countries and involve young women in supporting local and international approaches. She also said the strategy should reflect the concerted efforts of institutions and women’s movements to lobby and advocate for the issues of women under occupation and in places of refuge and to mobilize international solidarity to end the occupation and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially women
Intisar Wazir, who spoke on behalf of the Coalition and as head of the General Union of Palestinian Women, stressed on the importance of having a lobbying and advocacy plan for supporting the vision of the women’s movement in addressing the exclusivity of the cause of Palestinian women under occupation. She said the plan must provide advocacy and lobbying tools and ways to best utilize them in attaining the set goals. Wazir continued, “The preparation of this plan will be an important tool for the coalition in continuing its support for our cause and for confronting the dangers and threats around us. It also gives the subject matter an international dimension focusing on the use of international rights mechanisms.”
Local expert Rasha Salah Eddin said the first day of the workshop offered a brief display of the most important issues concerning Palestinian women in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and in refugee camps in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. It also showcased the issues expressed by the Civil Coalition members and discussed strategic approaches based on these issues in addition to the literature on Resolution 1325 and its most significant indicators. She said the first day also included a discussion on the mid-term goals regarding the development of a strategic plan for the Coalition’s lobbying and campaign plan.
Meanwhile, human rights consultant Mervat Rishmawi, who led the discussion on the second day, said “focus should be put on mechanisms and approaches that could push towards the strategic goals and the utilization of international tools for this purpose, including international human rights, the Security Council and the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)”. She also said they discussed the role of other countries, including host countries for Palestinian refugee women, western countries and countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They stressed on the importance of coordination and joint action with organizations and networks working on Palestine, both regional and international, in addition to pro-Palestinian movements and international labor unions. Rishmawi maintained that the participants were very involved in the workshop, with many sharing their previous experiences in this field.
Coalition coordinator Rima Nazzal said the workshop was timely since the Coalition was developing its lobbying and advocacy plan and finding ways to utilize international mechanisms for implementing Resolution 1325 and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. She focused on the importance of building on the previous plan and on efforts and mechanisms to internationalize the national cause and face the challenges and dangers in its path.
Finally, MIFTAH project manager Najwa Sandouka-Yaghi, said the organization was serious in its efforts to develop a strategic lobbying and advocacy plan for applying UNSCR 1325 at the local and international levels so it responds to the needs and priorities of Palestinian women in Palestine and in the Diaspora. This, she added, would contribute to holding the Israeli occupation accountable for its violations against Palestinian women and girls through connecting with international networks that support Palestinian rights. This would help to expose Israel’s policies on international platforms, she added. Sandouka-Yaghi explained that the workshop is part of MIFTAH’s “Conflict and Fragility” Project, which is funded by OXFAM, in its efforts to push for the implementation of the WPS agenda in Palestine.
خلال ورشة عمل عقدتها 'مفتاح' وضمت أعضاء الائتلاف في فلسطين والمنفى
الائتلاف النسوي لتطبيق قرار 1325 يحدد التوجهات الاستراتيجية وآليات العمل المحلية والدولية
تاريخ النشر: 21/09/2020
بقلم: مفتاح
رام الله - نظمت المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" بالشراكة مع الاتحاد العام للمرأة الفلسطينية وبالتنسيق مع الائتلاف النسوي لتطبيق قرار مجلس الأمن 1325 في فلسطين على مدار يومي (13و14 أيلول) ورشة عمل لبلورة التوجهات الاستراتيجية للضغط والمناصرة، وتحديد الآليات المحلية والدولية في سبيل تفعيل تطبيقات القرار الأممي 1325 والقرارات ذات العلاقة، بما ينسجم مع السياق الفلسطيني ووضع المرأة الفلسطينية تحت الاحتلال الإسرائيلي.
وهدف اللقاء إلى إعداد الخطة الاستراتيجية الثانية للأعوام (2020-2023)، التي تأتي بالتوازي مع إعداد الجيل الثاني للخطة الوطنية الفلسطينية التنفيذية لقرار مجلس الأمن 1325 التي تشرف وزارة شؤون المرأة على إعدادها.
وأشارت د. تحرير الأعرج المديرة التنفيذية ل"مفتاح" في الكلمة الافتتاحية للورشة، إلى توجه "مفتاح" نحو بلورة استراتيجية الضغط والمناصرة الخاصة بالائتلاف النسوي للقرار الأممي 1325 انسجاماً مع البعد الوطني في توسيع إطار المشاركة في إعداد الخطة ليشمل النساء الفلسطينيات في دول اللجوء وانخراط الشابات في دعم التوجهات الاستراتيجية محلياً ودولياً، وبما يعكس تكاتف جهود المؤسسات والحركات النسوية الفلسطينية للضغط والمناصرة لصالح قضايا المرأة تحت الاحتلال وفي اللجوء، وحشد التضامن الدولي لإنهاء الاحتلال ورفع المعاناة عن الشعب الفلسطيني وخاصة المرأة الفلسطينية.
وبالنيابة عن مؤسسات الائتلاف وبصفتها التمثيلية كرئيس لاتحاد المرأة الفلسطينية، أكدت السيدة انتصار الوزير على أهمية إعداد خطة للضغط والمناصرة في دعم رؤية الحركة النسوية في تناول خصوصية قضية المرأة الفلسطينية تحت الاحتلال، خاصة ما تشكله هذه الخطة من التمكن من أدوات المناصرة الدولية وآلياتها واستخدامها في الوصول إلى أهدافها. واستكملت منسقة الائتلاف حديثها بالقول:" إنّ إعداد هذه الخطة هو بمثابة أداة مهمة مساندة لعمل الائتلاف في استكمال العمل لمساندة قضيتنا الوطنية والمساهمة في مواجهة المخاطر والتهديدات المحيطة بما يجعل من أمر إيلاء البعد الدولي يعبر عن ضرورة اللجوء إلى الآليات الحقوقية الدولية.
بدورها أفادت الخبيرة المحلية رشا صلاح الدين، بأنه تخلل اليوم الأول من الورشة عرضاً سريعاً لأهم القضايا التي عبرت عنها النساء الفلسطينيات في كل من الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة، وفي مخيمات اللجوء في كل من سوريا ولبنان والأردن، إضافة إلى القضايا التي عبّرت عنها عضوات الائتلاف الأهلي لتطبيق القرار 1325. كما نوقشت التوجهات الاستراتيجية بالاستناد إلى هذه القضايا ومراجعة الأدبيات الوطنية حول القرار، وأهم المؤشرات المرتبطة بها، بالإضافة إلى فتح الحوار حول الأهداف الاستراتيجية ومتوسطة الأمد في سياق تطوير الخطة الاستراتيجية للضغط والمناصرة الخاصة بالائتلاف.
اما السيدة ميرفت رشماوي المستشارة في مجال حقوق الإنسان، والتي قادت حوار اليوم الثاني من اللقاء، فقالت، بأنّ البحث فيه تركز على المداخل والآليات التي من شأنها أن تدفع باتجاه تحقيق الأهداف الاستراتيجية، واستخدام الآليات الدولية، بما فيها آليات حقوق الانسان الدولية ومجلس الأمن، ولجنة وضع المرأة. كما تم الحديث عن دور الدول الأخرى، بما فيها الدول المضيفة للاجئات الفلسطينيات والدول الاخرى الغربية ودول آسيا وإفريقيا وأمريكا اللاتينية. وتم التأكيد أيضاً على ضرورة التنسيق والعمل المشترك مع المنظمات والشبكات المختصة الفلسطينية، والإقليمية، والدولية، إضافة إلى الحركات المؤيدة للقضية الفلسطينية والنقابات العمالية الدولية. وأكدت رشماوي، بأن ورشة العمل تضمنت تفاعلاً شيقاَ من خلال عرض المشاركات لعدد من خبراتهن السابقة في هذا المجال.
وحول أهمية هذه الورشة، أكدت منسقة الائتلاف السيدة ريما نزال، بأن الورشة أتت في وقتها المناسب، بينما يتوجه الائتلاف 1325 الذي يقوده الاتحاد العام للمرأة الفلسطينية نحو تطوير خطته على صعيد محور الضغط والمناصرة والتمكن من استخدام الآليات الدولية في تطبيق القرار 1325 وأجندة الأمن والسلام والبناء على ما تم تحقيقه الخطة السابقة من جانب، وبسبب طبيعة المرحلة التي تمر بها قضيتنا الوطنية والمخاطر والتهديدات المحيطة من جانب آخر، ما يجعل من أمر إيلاء البعد الدولي تعبير عن ضرورة اللجوء إلى الآليات الحقوقية الدولية وتدويل القضية وهما أمران يكتسبان أهمية عظمى".
بدورها، أكدت السيدة نجوى صندوقة / ياغي، بأن (مفتاح) تنظر ببالغ الأهمية إلى بلورة خطة استراتيجية للضغط والمناصرة لتفعيل القرار الأممي 1325 على المستوى المحلي والدولي تستجيب لاحتياجات وأولويات النساء الفلسطينيات في فلسطين والمنفى، وتساهم في مساءلة الاحتلال الاسرائيلي عن الانتهاكات التي تعرضت وتتعرض لها النساء والفتيات الفلسطينيات من خلال التشبيك مع الشبكات الدولية المناصرة لحقوق الشعب الفلسطيني لفضح سياسات الاحتلال من على المنصات المتاحة على المستوى الدولي. وقالت:" هذه الورشة تأتي في إطار مشروع "تعزيز مشاركة النساء في بناء السلم والأمن" الذي تنفذّه "مفتاح" ضمن جهودها في الدفع باتجاه تعزيز تنفيذ أجندة المرأة السلام والأمن في فلسطين".
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.
