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

As many controversial reports were published on the events that took place in the Village of Beilin, near Ramallah, on Thursday, IMEMC correspondence in Ramallah visited the Village on Friday and presented the following report:

At 11 a.m. around 700 Palestinians, Israeli and International peace activists gathered by the mosque. Among them were three Palestinian Members of Knesset and two Palestinian Legislative Council members.

At 11.30 demonstrators marched towards the construction site of the separation Wall. At the outskirts of the village about 30-40 Israeli Army soldiers formed a line and attempted to physically stop the marchers from getting closer to the construction site but failed.

At 11.40 soldiers, border police and Special Forces hurled dozens of teargas canisters and sound grenades, and fired rubber coated metal bullets at demonstrators forcing them to split into several parts.

A group of around 150 protesters managed to arrive close to the construction site, but were forced back by around 70 soldiers and border police.

This group of protesters was dealt with harshly. Soldiers and border police aggressively shoved and hit demonstrators. Several elderly activists were pushed to the ground, including a member of Knesset. At this point, soldiers arrested a Palestinian protestor, Ilyan Abu Rahma.

Israeli Knesset member Mohammed Baraka suffered injuries to his leg as a sound bomb was thrown directly at him. Another MK, Abdel Malik Dehamsha was manhandled and pushed to the ground.

At around 12:00, a group, believed to be an Israeli undercover police, started hurling stones at Israeli soldiers, urging Palestinian youth to join them.

Locals affirmed that prior to that there were no stone throwing from the protestors' side.

As villagers approached the stone throwers to prevent them from doing so, the disguised group drew their side arms and started chasing demonstrators across the fields.

At this point, the disguised group managed to arrest protester Riad Burnat.

Attempts to de-arrest the two detained Palestinians were met with "extreme" force, especially by the disguised undercover police force.

Several protestors were kicked, punched and wrestled to the ground or shot by rubber bullets. At this point, the police violently carried the detainee to an army jeep.

At approximately 12:45, police officers told protestors that the detained Palestinians will be released if protesters leave the site back to the village.

Protestors left the site, but detainees were not released.

At around 13.00, few protestors tried to negotiate the release of prisoners, but were tear gassed.

At 14:30 a group of Palestinian young protesters started to throw stones at soldiers.

Around the same time, a group of Israeli peace activists failed to break through soldiers' lines in an attempt to release the detainees. At this point, soldiers moved the two detainees to Offer military detention center.

Clashes between young protestors and soldiers continued until around 6:00 P.M.

According to paramedics present 22 Palestinians and Israelis were injured, mostly due to tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets to the chest, head and legs. Three of the injured were Palestinian children under 13 years.

Protestors reported that soldiers used three types of weapons never encountered by any of the protestors present, including guns capable of firing rubber bullets rapidly and one firing rubber pellets from a shot-gun type firearm.

Protester Mohammed Khatib was shot with a weapon that he describes as giving him an electric shock that knocked him to the ground unconscious and gave him five circular burns to his back.

In addition to Riad Burnat and Ilyan Abu Rahma, three Israeli peace activists were detained for questioning.

Many international peace activists stayed overnight in the village over fears of army incursions and further arrests.

Palestine won the prize for the saddest photo in the BBC "sadness and joy" photography contest.

The photo captured by the Palestinian TV producer Abdul-Rahman Al-Humran, shows three young girls weeping in sorrow for their brother, who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the city of Rafah in Gaza, won the first place in the competition.

The winning photo was published in six different languages on the BBC websites.

Al-Humran told Arbas48 news website that he captured the photo on October 10, 2003, during the Israeli invasion of Rafah.

Al-Humran added that he decided to compete for the saddest photo as he believed that under the current circumstances, Palestine can't win the prize for joy.

Thursday evening, Palestinian Attorney General, Hussein Abu ‘Assy, announced in a press conference that he temporarily froze the “Egyptian Cement” file, which is a case against some Palestinian companies which imported cement from Egypt and sold it to Israel to be used in erecting the annexation wall.

Abu ‘Assy said that probes conducted by the prosecution north of south of the country proved that there is no proof that any of the six charged companies are involved in this case, “the file will be frozen until further information is revealed”.

The case started after the Palestinian Legislative Council charged six companies of importing the cement used by Israel in erecting the annexation wall in the West Bank.

“The companies provided bills and tax papers which proved that the cement was sold in the Palestinian market”, Abu Assy said.

Answering a question about the involvement of Ahmad Qorei in the Cement case, Abu Assy said that there has been no cases filed concerning this issue, and that the prosecution used a video tape filmed in “Netzana” crossing between Egypt and Israel , in its investigation, the tape was not enough to confirm where the Cement trucks were heading.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday that there cannot be peace in the Middle East unless the Palestinians attain a state that satisfies their aspirations. Rice also said that Israel must recognize that the Palestinian state, which she said was "within our grasp," must be viable and contiguous - meaning with enough land to function well.

Rice, who will arrive in Israel and the Palestinian territories for talks, next Monday, delivered her message in a conversation with State Department employees.

"I don't think any of us doubt that without a Palestinian state that is viable, that can meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people, there really isn't going to be a peace for either the Palestinian people or the Israelis," she said.

Rice called on Arab states to stop incitement to violence, but her focus was on the need for Israel to yield territory and "creating conditions in which a new Palestinian state could emerge."

Her remarks were made on the eve of a meeting with Sharon's closest adviser, Dov Weisglass.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to meet on February 8.

The waited for summit is expected to focus on declaring a mutual cease-fire in addition to examining a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre September 2000 lines.

One key issue is Abbas’s demand that Israel release the more than 8,000 Palestinians currently held inside Israeli jails and detention camps.

Sources close to the ongoing Israel-PA dialogue said that the discussion is focused on the release of few hundreds of prisoners, with focus on prisoners in jail since before Oslo, aged and ailing prisoners, and those who served at least two third of their sentences.

Palestinians also want the release of political prisoners, like senior activists from Fatah and other organizations, as well as administrative detainees and people sentenced to short prison terms.

The Defense Ministry has already asked the Justice Ministry to convene the special committee on prisoner releases to examine the cases of hundreds of Palestinians slated for release.

On Wednesday, Sharon will convene the inner security cabinet to confirm goodwill gestures to the Palestinians that the inter-ministerial committee will approve later in the week.