In light of the European Union (EU) decision to suspend funding to the Palestinian National Authority and the implications this decision has on the social and economic situation, human rights, the rule of law and the already deteriorated situation in the OPT, Al-Haq and Al-Mezan submitted a letter to six EU countries expressing their deep concern over the decision by the EU to suspend all direct funding to the Palestinian National Authority PNA. They warned that the decision would exacerbate the emerging humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; severely damage the PNA’s ability to uphold the rule of law; and further diminish the Palestinians' ability to enjoy their fundamental human rights. Taken alone, each of these developments is cause for serious concern. Taken together, they will rapidly foment political and social instability beginning a downwards spiral from which it will be extremely difficult to recover. At this crucial juncture the decision to cease funding can only contribute to the further decline of the already grave situation on the ground.
While Al-Haq and Al-Mezan acknowledge the EU position that it does not want to harm the Palestinian people, we are compelled to highlight the contrast between this earnest sentiment and the consequences of withdrawing funding. A January 2006 report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that in 2005 the salaries paid to the 152,000 PNA employees effectively provided vital support for almost a million Palestinians, or approximately 25 percent of the population. Further, in the Gaza Strip, which is currently on the brink of humanitarian collapse due to Israeli closures, over a third of employed Palestinians work for the PNA. Clearly, if the PNA is unable to pay the salaries of its employees this will have a disastrous effect on the Palestinian people. Further, rendering the PNA unable to pay some 73,000 security personnel will undermine the proper maintenance of the rule of law.
The PNA is also responsible for the maintenance of essential infrastructure and the delivery of vital health care and social services. Since the beginning of the Oslo process in 1993 the development and running of governmental institutions dedicated to these purposes have been broadly supported by the international community through budgetary assistance to the PNA. Educational programmes, as well as health services such as immunisations, and the provision of clean water and electricity, are intrinsically dependent on functioning PNA institutions. As noted by the UN and numerous international agencies, this infrastructure cannot be replaced by the provision of humanitarian assistance. On a recent visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Director of Operations made this point explicitly clear, stating that,
While the ICRC stands ready to step up its activities to help the Palestinian population, neither the ICRC nor any other humanitarian organization can replace the authorities in their role as provider of public services.
Withdrawing aid to the PNA renders the Palestinian people dependent on structures incapable of meeting their needs and dilapidates the very institutions that could help relieve this dependence. This represents a significant step backwards. In addition to the severe short-term consequences of such a withdrawal, allowing institutions that have been fostered for over a decade to fail has disastrous long term implications.
The decision of the EU is compounded by the Israeli refusal to transfer the customs duties, VAT and purchase tax paid by Palestinian firms on goods destined for the OPT, but collected by Israel. These ‘clearance revenues,’ in 2005, amounted to almost half of the PNA’s monthly budget. In both its acquiescence to Israel withholding revenue belonging to the PNA, and its own decision to cease assistance to the Palestinian government, the EU is significantly contributing to the eviscerating the PNA budget, potentially igniting an already explosive situation in the OPT.
Al-Haq and Al-Mezan reconfirm that the decision by the EU to cease direct aid to the PNA needs to be thoughtfully re-evaluated. The Palestinian government, elected in free and fair democratic elections, must be allowed to fulfil its primary function of providing essential services and infrastructure to the Palestinian people. If its ability to do so is undermined it is the Palestinian people, and not the government, that will suffer. At a minimum, the EU should exert pressure upon Israel to transfer the Palestinian clearance revenues immediately. Failure to reconsider the decision to cease direct funding or pressure for the transfer of the clearance revenues will not only precipitate a crisis in the OPT, but will also indicate the unwillingness of the EU and the international donor community to engage in securing a just and durable solution to the conflict.
My Rights, Our Power: A Joint Campaign Launched in Palestine to Raise Awareness on Women’s Fundamental Human Rights
Date posted: March 09, 2019
By UN Women
1_March 2019, Ramallah – On the occasion of the International Women’s Day (8 March), a week-long joint campaign “My Rights, Our Power” was launched today in Palestine to raise awareness on women’s fundamental human rights. The joint effort, with participation from over 30 national and international partners from civil society organizations, media outlets, and international development agencies, targets youth, women, and men in various geographic areas in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza to promote women’s human rights in Palestine.
The campaign comes at a crucial moment when the anticipated adoption of the Family Protection Bill is at a standstill, raising concerns among national and international stakeholders about the consequences of such delay on safeguarding women’s fundamental human rights in Palestine. According to the Palestine report of the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), nearly one in five Palestinian men (17 percent) surveyed said they had perpetrated act of physical intimate partner violence against female partners, while 21 per cent of women surveyed reported having experienced such violence.
“Family violence, usually committed by a family member who has social or economic power over others in the family, causes enormous pain and suffering to all members of the family, especially the women and children,” said a spokesperson from civil society, which has vigorously initiated the development of the Family Protection Bill (FPB), and has strongly pushed its adoption since 2004.
“The violation of women’s human rights manifests in various levels and should be also understood from economic, cultural, and social aspects,” the spokesperson added, highlighting the lack of opportunities and freedom of choice, as well as limited access to justice and services that women in Palestine still experience.
The joint campaign aims to raise awareness of the general public, especially youth, women, and men on women’s fundamental rights in line with international standards and embedded in the Family Protection Bill draft endorsed by the previous Cabinet at the end of December 2018. Five key messages, addressing women’s right to a life free of violence, right to achieve justice and seek help in case of violation of such life, as well as the right to equal opportunities and right to make one’s own choices, will be distributed through various channels such as radio, social media, helpline (121), outreach activities, and on-site events. The closing event of the joint campaign will take place on 8 March in Jerusalem and will celebrate women’s achievements using TED-style talks, followed by art performances.
“My Rights, Our Power” joint campaign is part of the global International Women’s Day 2019 campaign under the theme of “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”. The theme focuses on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure, echoing the theme of the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 63) taking place in New York on 11-22 March 2019.
The participating organizations of the “My Rights, Our Power” are (in alphabetical order): 17 Palestinian women’s organizations represented by Al-Muntada (coalition), British Consulate-General, Business Women Forum, CARE International, Consulate General of Sweden, Consulate General of Belgium, EUPOL COPPS, EU Representative Office, FAO, General Union of Palestinian Women, Government of Japan, CowaterSogema/GROW Project, International Labour Organization, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Ma’an TV, MIFTAH, Netherlands Representative Office, Nisaa FM, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development, Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association, Representative Office of Canada, Representative Office of Denmark, SAWA, Sawasya II, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Sports for Life, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Representative Office of Norway, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UN Women, Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling, Women’s Studies Center.
For more information, please contact Eunjin Jeong at UN Women via eunjin.jeong@unwomen.org or 059 2321 308, Majd Beltaji at UNESCO via m.beltaji@unesco.org or 059 4501 506.
