MIFTAH
Thursday, 28 March. 2024
 
Your Key to Palestine
The Palestinian Initiatives for The Promotoion of Global Dialogue and Democracy
 
 
 

Ramallah, Istanbul -At the beginning of December , MIFTAH participated in a regional meeting of women’s organizations to discuss national plans for implementing women, peace and security agendas in the Middle East and North Africa – including UNSCR 1325, 2122, CEDAW and GR 30, and Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Women’s organizations from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya participated in the meetings, organized by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).

Hanan Kaoud, MIFTAH's Director of Development, said the 4-day meetings that were held in Istanbul – Turkey, focused on the situation of women and the basic tools and mechanisms for the protection and prevention from violence caused by conflict in accordance with women’s agenda for peace and security. The meetings, which ran through December 1-4, saw discussions on many important issues including increased violence against women, the main obstacles in confronting violence and the main strategies for promoting protection and prevention from violence against women and females in the Arab world. The participants further linked these topics to international tools for defending human rights and international humanitarian law. Moreover, focus was placed on ways to develop national plans for UNSC Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions in the Middle East and North Africa, in addition to the challenges and achievements at the national level and the international support from organizations working towards the implementation of Resolution 1325 in the Arab world.

The participants also discussed the importance of the reports presented to CEDAW committee regarding armed conflicts in Arab countries and within the context of the Israeli occupation. They discussed means of using General Resolution 30 from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the importance of gender considerations, especially in reforming the security sector including possible activities in this regard.

In her address, Kaoud said that during the meetings, the Palestinian general framework for a lobbying and advocacy plan was showcased, “which MIFTAH, in partnership with the General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), the National Coalition for Implementing Resolution 1325, seek to develop for immediate implementation”. Kaoud added that a description of the status of Palestinian women under occupation was presented, especially in light of July 2014 aggression against Gaza and the continued assaults and siege imposed on the Strip, and the increasing oppressive measures against Jerusalemites and Palestinians by the Israeli army and settlers in east Jerusalem and the Palestinian lands. She noted the need to support the movement of regional women’s organization that speaks out in one strong and united voice for the rights of Arab women and females. She also pointed out the need for lobbying to mobilize and recruit support and advocacy for the Palestinian people in terms of holding the Israeli occupation accountable for all its violations of International Humanitarian Laws and Human Rights in the occupied land of Palestine, in addition to the formation of an Arab women’s movement that supports the cause of Palestinian women.

At the end of the meeting, the participants reaffirmed the importance of women’s participation in peace processes and political transitions along with the need to determine priorities, exchange expertise and benefit from successful experiences. This is with support from the regional initiative towards the implementation of the strategic plan to enact UN Resolution 1325 to include women’s, rights and media institutions in participant countries.

It should be noted that Iraq is the first country in the Arab region to have a national plan for the implementation of Resolution 1325 and an estimate budget to support the resolution’s implementation. The plan, however, has not yet gone into effect.

 
 
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