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

The execution of five members of the armed resistance, the murder of an 11-year-old girl and the serious wounding of over 35 unarmed people in Nablus on 15th September, did not receive any significant coverage in the mainstream press. Doctor J, a cardiac surgeon whose house lies adjacent to the garden where Israeli soldiers shot the five men, has now given an additional account of what took place that morning.

In the early morning, the Israeli army occupied the home of the doctor, forced his family into one room and took up sniper positions from the windows, in order to kill the five men. Later an Israeli commander used the doctor as a human shield forcing him to walk to the scene of where the killings took place, to search the pockets of the dead men and to drag their mutilated bodies towards the soldiers. The use of human shields is illegal under international law, which prohibits an occupying army from forcing civilians to take part in any kind of military activity. Doctor J told us that he never imagined that he and his family would have to undergo such a traumatic experience.

Dr. J is a cardiac surgeon who has worked in both private and public hospitals in the West Bank, and Europe. He lives with his wife and children in a smart villa in the Rafidia area of Nablus. He told us that he has not had problems with soldiers in the area where he lives before, and that even during major incursions into Nablus, he was not directly affected by soldiers until Wednesday 15th September.

At approx 4:45 am soldiers stormed the home of the Doctor. His wife told the soldiers that their children were sleeping in another room and asked if she could go and wake them up and explain what was happening, however the soldiers burst into the children's rooms, forcing them to gather in the kitchen with their parents at gunpoint. The wife then reports that the shooting started almost immediately. At first, the family could hear return fire but, after a short time, this ended and the family could hear a barrage of gunfire continuing from Israeli snipers who were positioned not only in their house, but in at least four houses surrounding them and a church.

During this time, the doctor's wife told us, that the soldiers exchanged grenades with one another, in front of their children. She was clearly upset that her children had seen this. The family said that they felt threatened by the soldiers, but when they asked how long they would be in their home a soldier replied ' just a few minutes' and then said - "you don't have to worry, we are the good guys we will protect you."

At around 6.30 - 7 am, after the shooting had finished, a commander took the doctor from his home and ordered him to carry out several actions for him. For the next few hours the doctor was to be used as a human shield. The doctor told us that he felt obliged to follow the commander's orders, because his wife and children were being held at gunpoint and his parents were also being detained in another house.

The commander told the doctor that there was a sixth Palestinian man injured and hiding in the neighbour's house. He ordered the doctor to go to this house and search it. He gave the doctor strict orders to enter the house by the back door and then leave via the front door. The doctor was forced to walk alone to do this, watched by Israeli snipers surrounding the house. The doctor found no one inside the house. When he explained this to the commander, the commander became very angry and yelled at the doctor to go back and search every room in the house. During the second search, the doctor reports only finding IDF rockets that had been fired into the house and no one was inside. When he stated this to the commander, the commander told him, "you are lying, and because of this we will now demolish the house, and you are responsible for this."

The doctor was then ordered to go into the garden, where two of the dead men lay and was told to collect their guns, and search their pockets, to retrieve their mobile phones and ID's. The garden, which covered several walled tiers was full of trees, which meant that the bodies were not immediately visible to the doctor.

When he found them he was told to turn the men over onto their backs and bring their bodies to the soldiers. The doctor reported that the men were too heavy for him to pick up, so the commander shouted that he must drag the bodies by their legs towards them. As the doctor turned over one of the bodies he saw that half of the man's skull had been obliterated and as he dragged his body, the man's brain fell out onto the grass. The doctor told us that he had never seen such a sight in his life, despite the fact that he is a cardiac surgeon and regularly conducts open-heart surgery. The soldiers then proceeded to check the dead men's faces against photos they had, apparently to identify them.

At the next two bodies, the doctor was told that he should take care and tread carefully on the grass around. He was told that there was an unexploded bomb next to men. The doctor eventually saw the bomb, but despite the danger to himself he was forced to check the bodies and drag them towards the soldiers. He was then ordered to go up to the fifth man, who had been killed a short distance away on the road. On finding the man, the doctor describes seeing blood splattered high up on the wall above the man's body.

The soldiers then used the doctor to try and find the alleged sixth man again, ordering him to enter a nearby house. When the doctor found no one except the owners inside, an old man and his sister, he was ordered to bring them out for interrogation. After no sixth man was found, soldiers brought a heavily armoured bulldozer up to the house whose garden the men were killed in, and drove it directly at the house, smashing several rooms and demolishing half of the house.

An 80 year old man had been living in this house. His daughter reported that whilst soldiers had been firing early in the morning, the old man had been running from one room to another as bullets entered through his windows and walls. The old man rang his daughter to say that he couldn't cope with the shooting into his house any longer, and that he felt that he was going to die. After the shooting ended, soldiers told him via a loudspeaker to leave his home and go to his daughter's house. He was later admitted to hospital to be treated for anxiety and shock.

The ambulance crew was prevented from entering the area until around 11 am. They were given no information as to where the bodies lay and so had to search the gardens all around - one woman started screaming and then lost consciousness upon seeing the condition of the bodies. About 5 - 10 minutes after the ambulance crew, internationals and Palestinians entered the garden; the sound of bullets was heard cutting through the air. Several witnesses now confirm that this was the same time as Maryam aged 11 was shot in the face. The shots appear to have come from a nearby occupied house. There was no cross fire in the area at the time and Maryam was killed several hours after the initial operation had ended.

According to early morning Israeli news sources, the Israeli army originally reported that they had killed six fighters. However, despite soldiers ordering the doctor to search the area for him, a sixth man was never found .The killing of Maryam during a moment of calm whilst medical teams and Palestinians were collecting the bodies of those killed, changed the death toll that day from five to six.

For Immediate Release ISM Media Office October 5, 2004

International Solidarity Movement, along with International and Israeli Activists, Join Palestinians for the Olive Harvest!

Palestinian agricultural organizations and farmers, in coordination with the International Solidarity Movement, the International Women's Peace Service and Israeli activist groups, announce the 2004 Olive Harvest Campaign.

The ISM Olive Harvest Campaign will take place between October 5 and November 15.

The farming communities of the West Bank regions face enormous obstacles to completing their harvest. Settlers from illegal Israeli colonies in the West Bank, as part of their concerted campaign to drive the Palestinians off their land, constantly threaten, harass and even attack Palestinians working in their groves. The Israeli army frequently declares olive groves as "closed military zones" and prevents farmers from picking in areas that are close to settlement fences or settler-only roads.

The Olive Harvest Campaign, 2004, will challenge settler and Israeli army actions that deny Palestinians access to their land and the right to harvest their crops. Specific areas where the construction of the annexation wall is taking place will be targeted in coordination with Palestinian communities.

The regions where ISM will be focusing participation during the olive harvest are:

Tulkarem

Jenin

Nablus

Salfit

Jayous

The olive harvest is one of the key events in the lives of Palestinians. Olives and olive oil are one the largest agricultural products in the Palestinian economy and are important source of livlihood for thousands of families. The olive tree is also a symbol of the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinians. Defending the right to harvest olives is to defend Palestinian right to their land and to their history.

For information on the ISM Olive Harvest Campaign please see: www.palsolidarity.org or call:

ISM Media Office at: 972-2-277-4602 or 547-358-579

For specific regional information contact the ISM campaign coordinators:

Dave: 972-5976-6095 Taysir: 972-5967-6090 Ghassan: 972-5967-6780

1. Israeli Army Invades Tulkarem Refugee Camp-Forces Families out of Homes

2. Roadblock Removal Turns Violent-Three ISM Internationals Injured, a baby hospitalized

1. Israeli Army Invades Tulkarem Refugee Camp: On Wednesday, July 28 at 3:00AM the Israeli Army invaded the Tulkarem refugee camp. They have been conducting house to house searches and destroying property as they search each home. Last night the Israeli Army ordered families to leave their homes and walk to the United Nations School at the edge of the camp. ISM volunteers report they are emptying the camp. END

2. Roadblock Removal Turns Violent-Three ISM Internationals Injured:

On Wednesday, July 28 at 6:00pm, Palestinians and Internationals attempted to remove a roadblock at the entrance to the village of Jabad, west of Jenin. When they arrived the Israeli Army was already at the roadblock and had set up razor wire in front of the entrance to Jabad. They began throwing sound bombs and firing tear gas canisters directly at the 300-400 demonstrators in an attempt to disperse them. The demonstrators refused to leave.

The Palestinians and Internationals remained at the roadblock for two hours, negotiating with the Israeli soldiers in Hebrew, Arabic and English. The soldiers responded by aiming tear gas canisters at the demonstrators resulting in the injury of three ISM internationals.

According to eye-witness reports, a United States ISM volunteer was hit in the face with a tear gas canister and received multiple cuts and suffered tear gas inhalation. A Swedish volunteer was hit in the head and was overwhelmed by the tear gas. The third international, an Irish citizen, was hit in the ankle with a tear canister. All three were taken to the hospital. A baby was also hospitalized for tear gas inhalation and then released.

It is clear that the Israeli Army was firing the tear gas canisters directly at the demonstrators which caused the injuries. The Army has imposed a curfew on the village of Jabad and village residents are unable to leave their homes.

Updates to follow

END

Urgent Update: March to Jerusalem Holy Sites Blocked; Buses Turned Back by Israeli Army

Buses from Tulkarem and Nablus were stopped and turned back by the Israeli Army before reaching Jerusalem this morning.

Buses from Jenin and Palestinians from the Jerusalem and Ramallah area have already arrived in Al-Ram and are awaiting the buses that were to join them in their march to Jerusalem

Palestinians from the West Bank, supported by international and Israeli peace activists, are marching to the military checkpoints surrounding the holy city of Jerusalem. They are determined to continue the protest and demand their right to religious freedom.

For twelve years, East Jerusalem has been cut off from the rest of the Occupied Territories. In the past three years, people of the Muslim and Christian faiths have been denied the right to worship in Jerusalem.

For more information:

ISM Media Office: 02-277-4602 or 067-358-579
Randa (Jenin): 059-744-037 OR 054-771-5968
Abed Al-Karim (Tulkarem): 059-836-783
Saif (Nablus): 054-439-2184
Hisham (Jerusalem): 052-224-4983 OR 054-742-9651
Mohammad (Al-Ram): 054-542-0464
Abu Ahmad (NW Ramallah Area) 054-792-4952