Ramallah – Activist Fawziyeh Suleiman from the Women’s working society in Hebron is proud of the knowledge and awareness she gained after enrolling in a training course carried out by MIFTAH as part of its “Empowering Young Women Political Leaders”, headed by Lamis Shuaibi, director of the Participation Enhancement Program at the organization. Several women involved in political and student activities participated from various Palestinian factions and movements. The project is funded by UNDP.
CEO of MIFTAH, Dr. Lily Feidy took this opportunity to stress that the project comes within the strategic goals of the organization, which are aimed at empowering the leadership components in society to participate in the promotion of democracy and good governance and to raise social awareness towards the rights and duties of good citizenry. She said they were also aimed at supporting young women leaders and empowering them to assume decision making and leadership positions in society.
Suleiman says: “MIFTAH’s course molded my character and I am now a leader in my community. I now run an institution and I give consultations to many women in my area. I am so happy to have achieved this, all because of what I learned from this training course.
Sarah Za’aeen, a student activist from the Gaza Strip, feels much the same way. Being part of this project was, she says ‘good and beneficial” for her and increased her knowledge overall. Equally as important, she continues, it changed how she is perceived in her own community. “I benefited a lot from the activities in this project,” she maintains. “Especially in terms of my relationship with my family; I am more capable and bolder now as an activist and as a Palestinian woman.”
Another Gaza student, Asmahan Al Zeiti, says she even shared her newfound experience with others. “I taught what I learned from the course to my friends and colleagues and even to my mother and sisters,” she says, “and ultimately changed the way I think and the way they think as well. This was really wonderful”
Lana Abu Bakr from Salfeet says she used to complain that she was discriminated against because she was a woman. Still, she maintains, she found people to stand by her side and give her the support she needed. With that, she was able to overcome that feeling and acquire awareness and knowledge both by her own accord and with the help of others who supported her, in this case referring to MIFTAH.
However, the trainings in this project posed a challenge of another kind for Abu Bakr in terms of her right as a political activist to run in elections and take on a prominent and equal position in her political party side by side with her male colleagues. “This was my major challenge,” she admits. “If my male colleague has a right to run, this is also my right.” She says some were surprised by her new convictions about this, given that she is a girl and relatively young. “Some would ask me: ‘How do you dare put yourself out there as a candidate to lead the executive committee or even as a member of the regional branch, or university elections?’ Perhaps this is what I benefited most from MIFTAH’s trainings; this courage,” Abu Bakr said.
Student activist Hadeel Ziadeh from Jerusalem tells a slightly different experience. She says her involvement in political action was met by opposition from her family, who then imposed certain restrictions on her. That did not stop her though from getting involved, restrictions or not.
The trainers in this project also voiced their opinions and experiences. Trainer Rateeba Natsheh, a political activist from Jerusalem says: “What I remember during my college years was that at first, I refused to join any political faction. I used to believe that the homeland was one united message, which a person must embrace and belong to and put ahead of any other affiliation.” She continues, “I also used to think that any woman who was able to achieve her aspirations of acquiring a political position had reached the ultimate goal – there were no more aspirations to strive for because of traditions and customs, which can easily limit them.” Later, she admits, she found that the reality of things was very different. “Therefore, we found it necessary to address our issues in stages and not tackle them in one go. This was reflected on all aspects of my life. And this is why when I participate in educating our girls and young women, I am careful that the issues we discuss are not final or absolute.”
Member of the general secretariat of the General Union of Palestinian Women Rima Nazzal, who was a guest in the training’s dialogue meetings with the young women leaders, describes what she calls “different gaps in society”, all of which need to be bridged and eliminated. “Let us first admit that there are a variety of gaps between sectors of society, including cognitive gaps, gaps in experience and expertise and in terms and concepts.” This is why these trainings are so important, she says. “These meetings and training serve the goal of eliminating or at least narrowing these gaps and creating a climate of understanding and harmony; they also offer an exchange of expertise between historical leaders who began their involvement early on, and other leaders who are just navigating their way into having a role in society.”
Director Lamis Shuabi, who supervised the project’s activities, said that: “Through empowering young political leaders, MIFTAH seeks to target a group of young women leaders. If we look back at Palestinian involvement in politics, we will notice that there has been a clear and prominent role for Palestinian women. However, recently, we have witnessed a setback and a lack of this role. Hence, through this intervention with some candidates nominated by the various political parties and political activists and also from student bodies in universities, we seek to offer them support by giving them opportunities to empower and support their leadership skills alongside decision-makers and people in official positions in political parties. This is with the goal of building their capacities and promoting their capabilities so they could reach decision-making positions.”
Shuaibi continued: “We are working on developing a network of active youth with vision and involving these women activists so that they could wield more influence, become motivators and have a bigger role in the network we are working to develop.”
MIFTAH was granted a Special Consultative Status with the United Nations' ECOSOC
Date posted: September 28, 2020
By MIFTAH
The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy- MIFTAH was granted a special consultative status to work with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), through which MIFTAH seeks to contribute to promoting the Palestinian narrative and international advocacy based on international legitimacy and United Nations resolutions related to the Palestinian cause.
The ECOSOC is the principal organ that coordinates the economic, social, environmental and related work of the 14 United Nations specialized agencies, functional commissions and five regional commissions. It serves as the central forum for discussing international economic, and social and environmental issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the United Nations system.
ECOSOC provides NGOs the opportunity to be heard by a truly global audience and contribute to its agenda. ECOSOC has been the main entry point into the UN system for NGOs. ECOSOC remains the only main UN body with a formal framework for NGO participation
What is Consultative Status?
Consultative Status is an accreditation framework that benefits both the United Nations and the NGOs. Consultative arrangements are to be made, on the one hand, for the purpose of enabling the Council or one of its bodies to secure expert information or advice from organizations having special competence in the subjects for which consultative arrangements are made, and, on the other hand, to enable international, regional, sub-regional and national organizations that represent important elements of public opinion to express their views according to ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, part II, paragraph 20.
NGOs with Consultative Status can work with the United Nations Secretariat, programmes, funds and agencies in various ways, including in consultation with Member States. They can also contribute to a number of activities including information dissemination, awareness raising, development education, policy advocacy, joint operational projects, participation in intergovernmental processes and in the contribution of services and technical expertise
An NGO with consultative status can attend international conferences and events, make written and oral statements at these events, organize side events, enter United Nations premises, and have opportunities to network and lobby.
MIFTAH considers obtaining this Consultative Status timely and paramount to begin organizing its participation through the Council's sessions during 2021.
Signing ceremony for new cooperation agreement between MIFTAH and the Norwegian Representative Office
Date posted: November 28, 2019
By MIFTAH
Ramallah – MIFTAH and the Norwegian Representative Office to the PA signed on Monday, November 26 a new one-year cooperation agreement in a ceremony held in Ramallah.
Head of the Board of Directors, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, signed on behalf of MIFTAH while Norwegian representative, Ms. Hilde Haralstad signed on behalf of the Norwegian Representative Office.
During her speech at the signing, Dr. Ashrawi said, "For the past 18 years the Norwegian Representative Office has been one of the oldest and most significant of MIFTAH's supporters in its efforts towards promoting the principles of democracy and good governance in Palestine”. She also said this support was a continuation of the crucial work at this stage in supporting and empowering young leaders and women as change-makers, saying it gives this sector the ability to influence and change, especially in light of the difficult circumstances and challenges of the current political stage. Ashrawi also reiterated the importance of collective efforts in a coordinated and holistic manner between the various parties, which inevitably lead to change.
Dr. Ashrawi reaffirmed the Norwegian support for the Palestinian cause, expressing hope that Norway and other likeminded countries continue to stand on the right side of human rights and good governance and recognize the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, freedom, justice and statehood. She concluded her speech by expressing sadness for Ms. Haralstad's departure from Palestine, where she has served since 2016.
Meanwhile, Ms. Haralstad confirmed Norway's continued support for Palestine in its quest for statehood and human rights. She said she was proud to have partnered with an institution that supports the principles of democracy and good governance and which works for women's and youth issues such as MIFTAH. She also stressed on the important role Palestinian civil society institutions play in supporting the Women's Peace and Security agenda and expressed her sadness for leaving Palestine, saying she would continue to support the Palestinian cause.
The signing was attended by women's and rights institutions in addition to MIFTAH board members, representatives from the General Union of Palestinian Women and representatives from other MIFTAH funders and partners.
