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.

Mr. President,

We thank France for organizing this important meeting and extend our appreciation to the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary General, the Executive Director of UN Women, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and the Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie for their efforts and important briefings.

The issue before us is of relevance not only for half the planet, but to all, given the role and contribution of women in the fields of peace and security and the untapped potential that could be unleashed by mainstreaming their participation. Since the adoption by consensus of resolution 1325 by this Council, a lot has happened, and yet we are still far from the goal of full and equal participation, including in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, and from ensuring the protection and empowerment of women. Gender equality and non-discrimination remain prerequisites for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of this organization and all of our lofty, collective commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The State of Palestine welcomes the Secretary General’s report and his commitment to implementing the women and peace and security agenda, including by placing gender at the centre of his prevention platform and surge in diplomacy. We appreciate all efforts by the UN in this regard, including by UN Women, OHCHR and UNDP, notably in the field of human rights, capacity building, employment and rule of law. We urge UN bodies, notably those operating in Palestine, including the Special Representative, to intensify their engagement and collaboration with women organizations.

Mr. President,

I wish to highlight some of Palestine’s own important efforts in this regard. The Palestinian women’s movement is one of the oldest and strongest in the region and beyond, with institutional and representative structures established as early as the 19th century. Within the PLO, the General Union of Palestinian Women was among the first unions to be established. A coordination of women frameworks within PLO political parties and other organizations has also been established as the “Women’s Affairs Technical Committee” in the aftermath of the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference.

There have been many achievements thereafter. Among them: In 2012, Palestine inaugurated a High-Level National Committee for the implementation of resolution 1325, led by the Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with relevant Ministries and NGOs. In 2016, the State of Palestine was among the 68 countries and areas that adopted a National Action Plan on women, peace and security.

This Action Plan (2017-2019), adopted by both the Government and civil society organizations, identifies three primary objectives: 1. ensuring protection for women and girls both domestically and in the face of the Israeli occupation; 2. ensuring accountability through national and international mechanisms, with a particular focus on crimes and violations committed by the occupation; and 3. furthering women’s political participation in decision making at the national and international level. The State of Palestine also joined core IHL and human rights instruments, including CEDAW, without reservations. Women’s participation and empowerment are also important and cross-cutting objectives in the context of the National Policy Agenda (2017-2022).

We are, however, conscious that, despite all these efforts, much more work remains to be done. Only in 2009 was a women elected to the highest executive body of the PLO. Quotas are still decisive in allowing women’s election to Parliament and local councils. And while women organizations were among the strongest advocates of national reconciliation, they have been unfairly absent from reconciliation talks. The relevant legislative framework applicable in Palestine is also outdated and must be revised to ensure consistency with Palestine’s international commitments and obligations and avail women the protection and rights they are entitled to and the opportunities they deserve.

Mr. President,

The Palestinian women’s movement since its establishment over a century ago pursued the struggle on two fronts – the struggle for the independence of Palestine and the struggle for women’s rights and empowerment – a dual struggle the movement continues to pursue to this day. The Israeli occupation remains the main source of the violations of our women’s rights and their vulnerability and violence against their person. We have repeatedly called for protection of the Palestinian people, especially women and children. We have also called for accountability, a key element of resolution 1325, the first resolution to address the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women, as the only way to put an end to violations and crimes.

While Palestine stands ready to do its part to advance women rights and the role of women in the fields of peace and security, it is clear that the enjoyment of these rights in our country necessitates ending the Israeli occupation. We will thus continue to work for an end of the occupation and true progress on the path to independence, justice and peace, with the equal and full involvement of women, leading to an independent State of Palestine ensuring human rights for all its citizens without discrimination.

On the occasion of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to Palestine, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325, which consists of twelve different Palestinian women’s organisations, is urging the Prosecutor’s Office to take concrete actions towards investigating war crimes committed against Palestinians. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom remains deeply concerned with the complete impunity of Israeli war crimes and firmly supports the Coalition’s call for a just accountability mechanism for Palestinian victims. WILPF also calls on the international community to recognise and fully support Palestinian women’s organisations substantial role in paving the paths to justice, accountability and peace. Read the statement of the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325 below.

We, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325,welcome the visit of the delegation of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office as a step in the right direction. But we are deeply disappointed that the purpose of this visit was restricted to preliminary examination, while Palestinian victims of Israeli war crimes, including women, continue to suffer and urgently await justice and an end to Israel impunity.

We do not understand the decision to exclude the Gaza Strip from this visit, when Gaza has been the site of the most war crimes and where women have been most systematically impacted by Israeli collective punishment policies; a prolonged imposed siege and a severe humanitarian deterioration resulting from Israeli military aggressions .

We are further disappointed that women who have been systematically impacted, and their women’s organisations, have been excluded from the delegation’s agenda.

We call upon all future delegations of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to include on their agenda meetings with women’s organisations and women who have experienced direct and indirect impacts of Israeli crimes.

We, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325, have seen in UNSCR 1325, 2242, and other UN Resolutions a commitment to hold the Israeli perpetrators accountable for their war crimes.

We look to the ICC as the most important mechanism to end impunity for all war crimes committed, finally bringing justice for the Palestinian people. Yet, we are very concerned that the preliminary examinations will be an endless process.

Therefore, we urge, Ms. Fatou Bensouda, the Prosecutor of the ICC, to conclude the preliminary examination and move to investigations into Israeli war crimes, bringing justice to Palestinians.

We have paid the price of non-accountability and impunity of Israeli war crimes for too long. “Delaying justice is justice denied.”

Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325: The General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), the Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC), Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD), MIFTAH, Filastinyat, Women Media and Development (TAM), Women Stu Dies Center, Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling (WACLAC), the National, YWCA of Palestine, Center for Women’s Legal Research and Consulting (CWLRC), the Culture and Free thought Association(CWLRC) and Women’s Affairs Center (GWAC).

Occupied Palestine

October 11, 2016

On May 26, 2007, a group of settlers living adjacent to Al-Saraya Center inside the Old City of Jerusalem demolished part of a wall that separates the Center and their house so as to confiscate the terrace of Al-Saraya Center, as part of the settlers’ continuous and repeated attempts at confiscating the entire Center.

The office Secretary, Sahar Mohammed Hafeth Al-Qaysi, informed the Field Researcher of Jerusalem Center for Women about what was happening, and as soon as the news spread that settlers were attacking, a group of Palestinian youth and NGO representatives gathered and confronted the settlers. They were able to stop the settlers from further demolition and even began to help rebuild part of the destroyed wall.

The settlers, however, tried to stop the youth from rebuilding what they had succeeded in tearing down, claiming that it was their own terrace. A confrontation and violent clash between the two groups ensued, and the settlers contacted the police. Twelve police officers arrived and told both parties to leave the situation with the wall unchanged as the site had to be examined and that the incident be submitted for a “judicial decision.”

It should be noted here that the Al-Saraya Center commission had previously repaired (rebuilt) the terrace and the wall, as well as a covering to protect the building from rain. The settlers challenged this construction before an Israeli court. The court, however, held that the Al-Saraya Center has the full right and authority to use that area in the way it deems fit, as the building’s legitimate owner.

Jerusalem Center for Women is seriously concerned about the continuous attacks of settlers against the Palestinians and their property in Jerusalem, as in all the occupied Palestinian territories. The Israeli Occupation forces are also responsible for such acts and for permitting, and indeed assisting the settlers to continue residing in the occupied territories, an act which directly contravenes the laws and regulations of International Humanitarian Law.

Therefore JCW urges:

• The Israeli Occupation Forces to immediately halt the building of any new settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and to respect and apply the rules of the Fourth Geneva Convention guaranteeing the protection of Palestinians and their property, as well as to put an end to all the acts of violence and aggression perpetrated against Palestinians by Israeli settlers.
• The international community and the High Contracting Parties of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to hold Israel accountable to its commitment as prescribed in the Convention regarding the protection and welfare of civilians in the occupied territories.

On the 8th of May 2007, the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality’s bulldozers accompanied by a number of municipality officers and protected by tens of Israeli Occupation forces - (policemen, commandos, and Border Police), demolished two houses in the occupied city of Jerusalem. One of these houses was in Wadi Al-Joz neighborhood. The 270 m2 building was used as a Center for Al-Nujoom Charity Association for Children with Special Needs. The municipality first demolished it in 2005, but it was rebuilt at the end of last year.

The second house was located in Al-Essawiya village. The 2320 m2 building made up two separate apartments each with four bedrooms and their subsidiaries. This house belongs to the resident Daoud Ali Musa Naser who lived there with his wife and eight children.

Some witnesses informed us that the families tried to hold the demolition back but the policemen attacked them using sticks and tear-gas bombs. They also beat up Mr. Naser’s wife who was taken by ambulance to the hospital for medication.

Witnesses reported to the Jerusalem Center for Women Field Researcher that Policemen and Border Guards surrounded the building of Al-Nujoom Association at around 5 o ‘clock in the early morning, destroyed the main entrance gate, attacked and expelled the children and the counselors, then demolished the building claiming that it lacked a building permit.

It is important to mention that the association provides educational and entertainment services for tens of children with special needs, in addition to hosting other children with some counselors as the association is also utilized as a night-shelter.

According to various advocacy material prepared by Jerusalem Center for Women and other Human rights organizations in the oPt, the Israeli Occupation Forces represented by the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem have recently escalated the policy of House Demolitions in occupied Jerusalem. The number of houses demolished have reached up to 50 houses since the beginning of this year ( double the number of houses demolished last year during the same period of time).

The policy of House Demolitions applied by the Israeli Occupation Forces in Jerusalem gravely breeches the charted international standards of human rights, including individuals’ right of adequate housing. Additionally, it contravenes the International Humanitarian Law - IHL regulations, precisely those charted in the 4th Geneva Convention of the year 1949 with regards to the protection of civilians in times of war. Furthermore, it contravenes articles number 32 & 33& 146& 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949; besides falling under the pretext of collective punishments measures that the occupation forces extensively apply against Palestinians.

The Jerusalem Center for women is seriously concerned with the continuous violations of endorsed international conventions and international humanitarian law which Israel is breaching through adopting the policy of house demolitions.

Therefore JCW urges:

• The Israeli Occupation Forces to end the policy of House Demolitions applied against Palestinians as a basic right of adequate living.
• The High Contracting Parties of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, to hold Israel accountable to its commitment as prescribed in the Convention regarding the protection and welfare of civilians in the occupied territories.
• The International Community to practice pressure on the Israeli Occupation Forces and exercise its political and legal will in order to halt illegal Israeli measures that contravene IHL and the international standards of human rights.

Jerusalem Center for Women (JCW) welcomes the release of 500 political prisoners from the Israeli jails. This release apparently indicates that hopes for peace in the region not totally gloomy. However, a closer look shows clearly that these hopes are so fragile.

First and foremost the release of 500 is so limited compared to around 8,500 still detained of whom 130 are females. It does not include any old time prisoners, any from occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli Palestinians, juveniles or infirm inmates. The list included four females only. Consequently, most of those released have served most of their sentences.

The fatal discrimination in this issue is that Israel repeatedly appoints herself to set the criteria by which Palestinian detainees are selected for release without any consideration for the Palestinian side. Israel controls this issue to guarantee more concession/indulgence from the Palestinian side. From Oslo Accords to Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, along with Taba and Cairo Agreements there’s a continuous repetition of mistakes that Israel willingly precede in implying. Jerusalem Center for Women considers this release of Palestinian prisoners as a fake gesture of “Goodwill”. It won’t lead to a further step of confidence-building. Hopes for peace would split up as long as power politics dominate the so called negotiations. JCW calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to consider the detainees issue as one of the highest in priorities insisting that Jerusalemite prisoners are treated as the rest of the Palestinian prisoners.

JCW joins Mandela Institute in its call upon: - Israeli military authorities to release Palestinian political prisoners unconditionally and without discrimination. Until then, Israeli authorities must re-consider jointly with the Palestinian side the criteria for future releases; - Israeli military authorities to unconditionally release ALL administrative detainees and desist from using administrative detention. These must not be considered as part of any release agreement with the Palestinian side; - The Palestinian leadership to call upon members of the international community, particularly the Quad Partite to pressure Israeli authorities into succumbing to rules of the International Humanitarian Law.

The Jerusalem Center for Women is very dissatisfied with the election process that took place in Jerusalem both before Election Day on January 9, 2005 and on Election Day itself. We believe this election provides further evidence of the poor state of Palestinian rights in Jerusalem.

Background

Palestinians in Occupied East Jerusalem hold what is called Jerusalem Resident Identity Card. This status grants certain privileges denied to other West Bank residents (such as national insurance, health insurance, relative ease of mobility). This status also carries significant restrictions unique to Jerusalem residents. First, as residents and not citizens of Israel, they do not hold Israeli passports. They are not permitted to hold Palestinian Passports because the issue of Jerusalem has been left to final status negotiations. They hold Jordanian Passports yet need a special permit to travel to Jordan. They cannot live in Jordan because they don't have a Jordanian ID number, i.e. residency.

In addition, with the Apartheid Wall being built to nearly completely surround Jerusalem, they will not be able to move around the West Bank. They are already denied access to Bethlehem and some other areas. This creates major problems for the more than 150,000 Jerusalemites who are married to Palestinians holding West Bank identity cards.

Further, in 1995 Israel passed a discriminatory law permitting the Israeli Ministry of Interior to confiscate identity cards of East Jerusalem residents if they are unable to prove that they have been living in the city for the past 7 years. This policy facilitates Israel’s plan to keep a ratio of 72% Israelis to 28% Palestinians in Jerusalem.

Obstruction of Free Elections

Given this background, it is not surprising that free elections were obstructed. The Jerusalem Center for Women is especially concerned that:

• The Israeli government propagated to the international media that it allowed East Jerusalem Palestinians to freely participate in the Palestinian presidential elections; meanwhile on the ground it made every effort to prevent a free election process from taking place. Israel objected to open registration centers for the 120,000 eligible Jerusalemites voters. It permitted only 5,700 out of 120,000 people to vote inside the Israeli municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. The rest had leave Jerusalem to go to the surrounding villages to vote for their president.

• Palestinian Jerusalemites were asked to vote using absentee ballots as if they live away from their home country.

• Palestinian presidential nominees were repeatedly assaulted and detained in East Jerusalem or at the checkpoints separating Occupied East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.

• Palestinian election monitoring volunteers were not allowed to enter the Israeli Post Offices where ballots were stored.

• Rumors were spread in East Jerusalem inciting fears that Jerusalem residents who voted would have problems with the Israeli authorities—specifically, that they could lose their residency right in East Jerusalem or be deprived of their national insurance.

• Voting in Jerusalem was carried out only in Israeli post offices with confusing procedures and a lack of privacy. Israel authorities who controlled the voter lists in Jerusalem placed voters’ names on poll lists far away from where they live. Some voters needed to tour up to 6 post offices to find their names and sometimes were not successful.

Enduring Palestinian Determination

Despite these obstacles, the Palestinian electorate went to polling centers on January 9th to vote in the second presidential elections under the Palestinian National Authority since 1994. Despite the existence of occupation Palestinians demonstrated a spirit of determination to exercise their electoral rights. Approximately 43% of all Palestinians with a right to vote cast their ballots in the presidential elections (61% of registered voters). Only 21.9% of Palestinian Jerusalemites with the right to vote were able to cast their ballots.

The Jerusalem Center for Women calls for all irregularities to be taken into consideration and changes to be made so that the process of parliamentary elections next July will guarantee the rights of Jerusalemites to express their political will freely, respectfully and smoothly.