Al Bireh – Minister of Local Government, Majdi Saleh and Youssef Dajani, representing MIFTAH’s Board of Directors, signed a Memo of Understanding [MoU] aimed at building a strategic partnership to promote women’s political participation in local government. The two parties expressed their desire to build a relationship based on partnership and cooperation to promote the leadership role of women in local government in addition to amending, developing and supporting gender institutionalization in LGUs, whether in regards to the role of their female members and staff or to services provided to communities.

The MoU was signed at a meeting held at the Ministry’s offices in Al Bireh on July 11, which was attended by Deputy Minister Mohammed Hassan Jabarin, Assistant Deputy for Governorate Affairs, Abdel Karim Sidr, Gender Director General at the Ministry, Ms. Asma’ Kharroub, the Ministry’s team and MIFTAH team.

Saleh said that this “understanding stems from both sides believing in the importance of the development role for LGUs, the need for women’s participation and their rise to decision-making positions on their own merits.” He also said it was aimed at providing better services towards achieving equality and sustainable development.

He continued that the MoU is part of efforts in line with the Ministry of Local Government’s strategic approaches, which coincide with strategic national policies pertaining to the promotion of women’s and youth participation in formulating policies and decision-making.

On his part, Dajani pointed to MIFTAH’s accomplishments and efforts with the Ministry of Local Government over the years towards promoting women’s participation in LGUs. The accomplishments, he said, included the preparation of specialized reports and papers, holding trainings, releasing consultation and training guidebooks and conducting dialogue sessions. Dajani stressed on the importance of continuing efforts to develop a gender charter which would help to promote policies and measures that support women’s participation and involvement in LGUs. It would also help generate constructive dialogue between the Ministry of Local Government, LGU’s and civil society in consulting and discussing issues pertaining to advancing local government, in addition to the demands of civil society regarding the amendments to the 2005 Local Elections Law, No 10, he said. In this regard, several institutions signed demands delivered to Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayeh calling for amendments to certain provisions of the law, which would contribute to expanding participation in the electoral process and promoting the principle of equality regarding women’s political participation in local council and municipal elections.