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

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have continued air strikes on the Gaza Strip, especially on its north. They have attacked a number of civilian facilities and agricultural areas. This escalation has come in the context of a plan made by the Israeli Ministry of Defense to respond to launching locally made rockets at Israeli towns located to the east of the Gaza Strip. PCHR is concerned that such attacks may endanger the lives of Palestinian civilians and destroy their property.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 23:30 on Sunday, 18 December 2005, IOF started to launch a series of air strikes, which continued until Monday morning. IOF war planes launched at least 13 air strikes on a number of roads in the northern Gaza Strip towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia. They attacked the following targets:

1. A number of missiles hit al-Sikka Bridge in the south of Beit Hanoun, destroying it and making a large crater into the main road that links the south with the north of the Gaza Strip and leads to Erez crossing.
2. Three missiles hit Salah al-Din Street, making craters and destroying it partially.
3. A missile hit the road leading to a site of the Palestinian Naval Police in al-Sudaniya area in the west of Beit Lahia.
4. Three missiles hit the main road in Sheikh Zayed town in Beit Lahia, partially destroying it and damaging a number of houses;
5. A missile destroyed the road leading to Um al-Nasser village, nearly 100 meters away from Balsam Hospital, whose windows were also destroyed.

As a result of these air strikes, 6 Palestinian civilians, including a 3-month-old infant, were injured by shrapnel. Palestinian civilians were extremely terrified.

On Sunday morning, 18 December 2005, IOF war planes launched 6 mock air raids on the same areas. They also attacked agricultural areas to the east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis.

In light of the above:

1. PCHR reiterates its condemnation for this latest escalation, which further proves that the Israeli Disengagement Plan was a form of IOF redeployment rather than an end of occupation as the Israeli occupation is still effective both physically and legally.
2. PCHR is concerned that more casualties may occur among Palestinian civilians in light of the green light given by the Israeli government to IOF to commit more extra-judicial executions and attack Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip.
3. PCHR reminds the Palestinian resistance groups of their responsibilities with regard to protection of civilians in keeping with international law, and calls on them to abstain from launching any military activities from inside or near civilian areas or which target civilians or civilian areas. Attacks against civilians are in clear violation of international humanitarian law.
4. PCHR calls for campaigning for the complete implementation of international humanitarian law and that the perpetrators of attacks against civilians must be dealt with in accordance with international humanitarian law.

On Thursday, 17 November 2005, IOF extra-judicially executed two activists of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement, in Jenin. This is the third extra-judicial execution committed by IOF in the northern West Bank in 5 days. IOF claimed that they ordered the victims to stop, and then fired at the two men when they did not obey the order. However, PCHR’s preliminary investigations refute this claim and confirm that IOF could have arrested the two men or used non-lethal force.

According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:15, on Thursday, 17 November 2005, an undercover IOF unit of IOF moved into Jenin using a medium-sized truck (Mercedes 410) with a Palestinian license plate. When the undercover unit reached the water reservoir in Haifa Street, they passed another civilian car heading from al-Yamoun village to Jenin. The unit members opened fire at the other car without warning and hit the two people in the car. Both were killed instantly. Their bodies were taken to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin. According to medical sources, the dead men were hit by gunshots to the head. They were identified as Ahmad Saber Mohammad Mahmoud 'Abahra, 20; and Mahmoud Jamal Mohammad Zayed, 20, from al-Yamoun village, southwest of Jenin.

PCHR strongly condemns this crime and asserts that extra-judicial executions are the most blatant example of premeditated willful killings perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians, with the official approval of the highest political and judicial bodies in Israel. These crimes are classified as war crimes under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. In addition, they are a flagrant violation of human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights of 1966. PCHR believes that that the policies of military incursions; willful and extra-judicial killings; and arbitrary arrests, implemented by IOF almost daily in the West Bank, serve to escalate tension in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians. Consequently, PCHR calls upon the international community to cease their silence in light of such attacks, and reiterates its call for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to fulfill their obligations to ensure protection for Palestinian civilians in the OPT.

For the third consecutive day, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have continued to shell Palestinian civilian targets in the Gaza Strip using warplanes, gunboats as well as tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Israeli warplanes carried out mock air raids and conducted sonic booms over the Gaza Strip. IOF have also closed all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, including commercial ones. This Israeli escalation came in a response to launching a number of locally made rockets by Palestinian gunmen at the Israeli town of Sedorot to the north of the Gaza Strip. This latest wave of attacks on the Gaza Strip has been the second of its kind since the middle of last September, when IOF evacuated Israeli settlements and redeployed around the Gaza Strip.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 20:30 on Monday, 24 October 2005, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet launched a missile at an uninhabited area to the north of al-Nada housing project. No casualties were reported, but the missile made a large crater into the ground.

At approximately 22:30 on the same day, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast of Beit Hanoun fired a number of artillery shells and gunshots at Palestinian areas located to the west of the border. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians were extremely terrified.

At approximately 23:30 on the same day, Israeli gunboats launched a number of missiles at a number of sites of the Palestinian National Security Forces in al-Sudaniya area in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties or damage were reported.

At approximately 01:00 on Tuesday, 25 October 2005, Israeli warplanes launched a missile at the office of Fatah movement in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanound. The office was severely damaged, but no casualties were reported.

At approximately 01:30 on the same day, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at al-Ihsan Cultural Centre on the second floor of a building belonging to the Solidarity Society for Community Development in al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah. The missile hit a concrete pillar in the building and shrapnel from it hit two neighboring houses. The centre, a clinic on the first floor of the building and the two houses were severely damaged. A third house was lightly damaged. In addition, 5 Palestinian civilians, including an old woman and two children, in one of these houses, and the guard of the centre were injured by shrapnel.

At approximately 06:25 on the same day, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet launched a missile at an uninhabited area in the south of Beit Hanoun. No casualties or damage were reported.

At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 26 October 2005, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun, fired 12 artillery shells at uninhabited areas located nearly 1000 meters to the west of the border. No casualties were reported. This Israeli shelling continued sporadically for two hours. IOF also declared the targeted area known as al-Masriyeen area a closed military zone and prevented Palestinian civilians from leaving their houses. This Israeli declaration remained effective until 06:00, when Palestinian civilians started to move normally, but nearly 1500 meters away from the border.

In light of the above:

1. PCHR strongly condemns this serious escalation in attacks by IOF, which proves that IOF continue to occupy the Gaza Strip, despite the recent evacuation of Israeli settlements. PCHR reiterates its position declared on 13 October 2004 that IOF did not end their occupation of the Gaza Strip rather they redeployed around it, while the occupation has remained effective in its legal and materialistic forms.
2. PCHR is gravely concerned that a green light given to IOF by the Israeli government, allowing them to launch wide scale attacks, including extra-judicial killings and incursions, in the Gaza Strip, may result in more casualties among Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR remains also gravely concerned at repeated mistakes in firing those rockets hitting civilian areas and endangering civilians. PCHR also reminds the Palestinian resistance groups of their responsibilities with regard to protection of civilians in keeping with international law, and calls on them to abstain from launching any military activities from inside or near civilian areas or which target civilians or civilian areas. Attacks against civilians are in clear violation of international humanitarian law.
4. PCHR calls for continuing efforts to press for the complete implementation of international humanitarian law and that the perpetrators of attacks against civilians must be dealt with in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) committed another extra-judicial execution crime yesterday evening . The victim was Nehad Khaled Abu Ghanem, 33 years old from the village of Barqeen , west of Jenin. He died after sustaining several gunshot wounds in the upper body. IOF troops chased him and fired at him from close range, killing him instantly.

Initial investigations by PCHR and eyewitness accounts indicate that at 16:30 in the afternoon of Sunday the 16 of October Nehad Khaled Abu Ghanem (33) was driving a black "Citroen" on his way from Qabatya to his home village, Barqeen. When Nehad reached the Martyrs' Triangle intersection off the Jenin – Nablus road, he noticed a number of Israeli military jeeps around the intersection. He may have thought that he had been ambushed. He drove his car towards the southwestern entrance of Martyrs Triangle village, about 200 meters away from the jeeps. IOF soldiers noticed him and gave chase. Nehad drove away quickly and accidentally hit the wall of a house. The car stopped completely. Several soldiers got out of their jeeps and surrounded Nehad. They opened fire at him from close range while he was in the car. He died instantly.

A Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance transported Nehad's body to "Martyr Dr. Khalil Suliman" governmental hospital in Jenin. After examination, medical sources in the hospital announced that Nehad was hit by 6 bullets in the mouth, head, chest, and abdomen.

Eyewitnesses reported that the IOF troops could have easily detained Nehad without being exposed to any danger. However, IOF did not make the arrest due to their premeditated intent to kill.

This crime comes one week after the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, published on 9 October, that IOF announced a reduction in detention operations against "key wanted activists" in the West Bank who are expected to resist arrest. IOF claimed that Nehad had been "wanted" since his release from Israeli jails 9 months ago. He served a four and a half years sentence for membership in Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad.

PCHR views with great concern the continued escalation by the Israeli government and IOF in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). This incident is added to the list of ongoing Israeli violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, including through extra-judicial executions. These incidents are further evidence that the Israeli government disregards international law and international humanitarian law. PCHR affirms that the extra-judicial execution policy adopted by the Israeli government threatens to drag the region into a new cycle of violence. PCHR calls upon the international community to break its silence regarding these and other incidents. The Centre renews its demand to the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations and guarantee the right to protection for Palestinian civilians in the OPT.