Ramallah – As part of its program “Institutionalizing UN Resolution 1325 to achieve peace and security for Palestinian women”, which MIFTAH implements with support from OXFAM, a meeting was held to discuss a report on violations against Palestinian women in the West Bank. The report was based on conclusions from the campaign for documenting violations against women and girls which MIFTAH conducted in 2014 in the West Bank. This campaign included girls and women living in close proximity to the separation wall and settlements, women prisoners, Jerusalem residents and those living in the Jordan Valley.
Introduction
The report showcased two levels of conclusions: quantitatively, Mr. Ashraf Hamdan highlighted the scope and forms of violations against women in light of what is called the “collective occupation”; the other level of conclusions was qualitative, presented by Fida’ Barghouti, who shed light on what women do in their familial and local environments. She portrayed the occupation and social violence women are subjected to, whether those living next to the wall, women in Jerusalem, those near military checkpoints or residents of the Jordan Valley. These women showed tremendous ability to remain steadfast and adapt. They play the role of mothers, wives and breadwinners, all in order to preserve their families' structure and rights.
The qualitative results showed that women were subjected to various forms of violence by the Israeli army at checkpoints while moving to and from the West Bank during a twelve-months period in 2014. Furthermore, former female prisoners and Jerusalemite women faced at least one form of violence at checkpoints -- 72.1% and 63.3% respectively. Women who live close to settlements and to the separation wall and those living in the Jordan Valley were subjected to Israeli army and settler violence at 71.2%, 49.2% and 30.7% respectively. While Jordan Valley women were less exposed to direct violence from the army and settlers than women in other areas, they were subjected to violations such as land and crop confiscation and prevention of shepherding. They were not able to access educational services and water or housing services in the Jordan Valley by 63.8% and 69.6% respectively.
Jerusalemite women: exclusivity of violations
The report highlighted the exclusivity of the violations women in Jerusalem face. It showed that 71.2% of women in the city have been subjected to various form of violence from occupation forces or settlers, including 89.8% who were deprived of a number of educational and health services; 45.6% were deprived of housing and work while 12.2% were deprived of a Jerusalem ID card or magnetic card or were threatened with ID revocation. Furthermore, 87.3% had either money or cars impounded or had to pay fines and taxes while 14.6% were barred from travel abroad or from leaving Jerusalem.
Women who live near the settlements
The results showed that 91.5% of the women who live near settlements who were subjected to settler or Israeli army violence had experienced teargas inhalation, stun grenades and gunfire. 85.2% said they had been cursed and humiliated and 79.9% were prevented from accessing health care services and water. 5.4% said their land or crops had been stolen in the past 12 months; 27.4% of the women said the Israeli army attacked women the most near the settlements, followed by 26.2% who said the settlers. 36.6% said the army, settlers, police, border guards and intelligence officers all participated in attacks on women in these areas. Additionally, 4.9% said passing-through Israeli troops also participated in attacks on women.
Former prisoners
The report highlighted the violations against women prisoners during their incarceration. Results showed that the majority of prisoners had been beaten while being arrested from their home or at checkpoints by Israeli occupation soldiers, and that 88.5% had been insulted and cursed. 78.8% said they were barred from brining medicine or personal belongings with them.
Women living near the wall
The report results showed that 22.3% of women living near the wall said they had been subjected to the violence of occupation forces and settlers. 38.4% said they had been insulted and cursed, and 30.5% said they were prevented from obtaining permits to pass through the gates and that their homes had been raided by the army more than once. 8.5% said they were not allowed to move freely .
Direct proportionality between the occupation and violence inside the family
According to Fida Barghouti, the qualitative results of the quantitative research, showed a proportional relationship between the violence from the Israeli occupation against a family member, and violence against women in the family. In the case of Jerusalem women, 44.1% said someone in their family (husband or other family member) had been attacked by occupation forces or settlers. Furthermore 62.1% said they were subjected to one form of violence from a male family member – 72.7% to physical violence to 90.2% to psychological violence. A similar result was seen in women living near settlements who testified that more than one-third of their family members had been attacked by occupation forces or settlers. These attacks had repercussions on their subjection to violence within the family, with 52.3% saying they were physically abused and 77.1% psychologically abused by a husband of another family member.
Noteworthy findings
The rate of violence against women drops proportionally with the rate of attacks on one of their family members, a finding which confirms the direct proportionality between attacks on men in the family and familial violence against women in that same family. In the case of women who live near the wall who noted a lower percentage of attacks by occupation forces at around one-fourth, they also noted a lower rate of familial violence – 22.3% reported physical violence and 43.8% psychological violence by a family member. Furthermore, women living near settlements said 20.9% of their family members had been subjected to attacks by Israeli occupation forces or settlers, which was reflected on the drop in violence inside their own families, where 28.1% said they were subjected to physical violence while 28,1% to psychological violence.
Compounded suffering
Barghouti adds: “The report concluded that the scope of violations and suffering endured by women in the selected locations makes them more vulnerable to the elements of the conflict given that they are doubly affected in comparison to other societal sectors. This, in turn places responsibilities and repercussions on women, whose job is to provide safety and security for their families. Add to this the specific circumstances of the women’s families. The study showed that most of them are under economic and social pressures such as: an increase in the responsibilities of the husband and work pressure; family members who suffer from health problems, which call for hospitalization; an increase in caregiving for family members and parents given that most of the women were previously married except for 45.9% of former women prisoners who have never been married. There is also the angry responses from the male members of the family whenever they were subjected to violence.
Taking into consideration the demographic specifics, we can see that the majority of women in the various locations have below-secondary education levels; moreover, most of them do not work, factors which make them more vulnerable to poverty, unemployment and marginalization. In turn, this increases household burdens and reproductive roles on the women for the sake of the family’s continuation and living security given the poor political and economic situation.
The survey results showed that the most prominent obstacle women are subjected to is the occupation. It constitutes a threat to human security in general and women’s security in particular, thus increasing the burden of their duties. Add to this, the obstacle of being subjected to one or all forms of psychological and physical violence, coupled with poor education, a lack of work opportunities and resources and the economic and social circumstances around them. None of this, however, can ever undermine the roles women play in protecting their families.
Benefiting from the research results
MIFTAH project manager Najwa Yaghi began the session by giving a presentation on the nature of OXFAM-funded project “Towards Institutionalizing Resolution 1325 to achieve peace and security for Palestinian women.” She explained that the first draft of the questionnaires were developed by MIFTAH in partnership with UNFPA, saying that, “This time, through OXFAM's project, we were able to turn one questionnaire into five questionnaires concerning Jerusalem women, women prisoners, and women living near the wall, the settlements and the wall”. She said this is a participatory effort with the Higher National Committee for Implementing UNSC Resolution 1325, with members of the National Coalition for Implementing the Resolution in Palestine and with experts in human rights, peace and security.
Yaghi continued that the groups who developed the questionnaires included sections on violations that would criminalize the Israeli occupation for violations of Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. When the questionnaires had been finalized, MIFTAH organized a campaign to document violations against Palestinian women all over the West Bank. Yaghi noted that MIFTAH added the group of questions linking familial violence with the violence of the occupation, which later led to the conclusion that the more there is oppression from the occupation, the more familial violence increased.
Yaghi urged the National Coalition, headed by the General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), and the National Committee for Implementing UNSC Resolution 1325, headed by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, to benefit from the study and its findings when drawing up implementation plans for a national strategy to implement 1325. She also urged GUPW, as head of the National cCoalition, to begin the process of documenting violations.
المقدسيات الأكثر خصوصية وتأثرا...
جلسة مركزة في 'مفتاح' تناقش نتائج تقرير حول 'الانتهاكات التي تتعرض لها النساء في الضفة الغربية'
تاريخ النشر: 21/09/2015
بقلم: مفتاح
رام الله – ضمن مشروع "نحو مأسسة القرار الأممي 1325 لتحقيق الأمن والسلم للمرأة الفلسطينية" والذي تنفذه المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" بدعم من مؤسسة "أوكسفام" عقدت أمس جلسة مركزة تم خلالها عرض ومناقشة تقرير حول "الانتهاكات التي تتعرض لها النساء في الضفة الغربية"، مستندا إلى تحليل نتائج حملة توثيق الانتهاكات ضد النساء والفتيات ضمن القرار الأممي 1325 التي قامت بها "مفتاح" في العام 2014 في مناطق الضفة الغربية، وشملت فئات عديدة من النساء الفلسطينيات المقيمات بجانب جدار الفصل العنصري، والمستوطنات،والأسيرات، والمقدسيات، والمقيمات في منطقة الأغوار.
مدخل
لقد أظهر التقرير مستويين من النتائج: أولاها النتائج الكمية التي عرضها السيد أشرف حمدان والتي أبرزت لأول مرة حجم وأشكال الانتهاكات التي تظهر الواقع التي تعيشه النساء في ظل سياق احتلالي اجتماعي، مقابل النتائج الكيفية التي عرضتها السيدة فداء البرغوتي والتي بدورها سلطت الضوء على ما تقوم به النساء في محيطهن العائلي والمحلي، والمتعلق بالسياق الاجتماعي المعاش، وما تتعرض له النساء من عنف احتلالي ومجتمعي سواء المقيمات بالقرب من الجدار ، أو النساء المقدسيات، أو المقيمات بالقرب من الحواجز العسكرية، أو المقيمات في الأغوار، واللواتي يظهرن قدرات هائلة على الصمود من أجل البقاء والتكيف ، وتسهم الأدوار التي يلعبنها في هذه الحالات كأمهات وزوجات، إلى جانب توليهن مسؤولية إعاشة العائلات وفي الحفاظ على بنية عائلاتهن، وبنية المجتمع ككل، وبالتالي تمكينهن وحماية حقوقهن على مستوى العائلة والمجتمع ككل.
فعلى صعيد النتائج الكمية أبرزت نتائج البحث لأول مرة أن غالبية النساء يتعرضن للعنف على اختلاف أشكاله من قبل جيش الاحتلال على حواجز الاحتلال (المتحركة او الثابتة) أثناء تنقلهم إلى الضفة الغربية خلال 12 شهرا الماضية، كما في حالة الأسيرات المحررات والمقدسيات اللواتي تعرضن على الأقل لشكل واحد من أشكال العنف المختلفة على حواجز الاحتلال بنسب وصلت إلى 72.1%، 63.3%، على التوالي، كما تعرضت النساء المقيمات بالقرب من المستوطنات، المقيمات بالقرب من جدار الضم والتوسع والمقيمات في مناطق الأغوار لأشكال مختلفة من العنف من قبل الاحتلال أو المستوطنين خلال 12 شهرا الماضية، بنسب وصلت إلى 71.2%، 57.7%، 49.2%، 30.7% على التوالي.
وبالرغم من أن النساء المقيمات بالأغوار هن الأقل تعرضا لعنف الاحتلال والمستوطنين المباشر من الفئات الأخرى من النساء اللواتي شملهن البحث، إلا أنه أبرز أشكالا أخرى من الانتهاكات التي تتعرض لها النساء في المنطقة من قبل الاحتلال والمستوطنين، كمصادرة الأراضي والثمار ومنع الرعي في المنطقة، ومنعهن من الحصول على الخدمات التعليمية أو المياه أو بناء السكن والخدمات السكنية في منطقة الأغوار، بنسب وصلت إلى 63.8%، 69.6% على التوالي.
النساء المقدسيات: خصوصية الانتهاكات
لقد أبرز البحث خصوصية للانتهاكات التي تتعرض لها النساء في القدس، إذ أفاد البحث بتعرض 71.2% من النساء المقدسيات لأشكال مختلفة من العنف من قبل الاحتلال أو المستوطنين أثناء اقامتهن في القدس منهن 89.8% حرمن من الحصول على عدد من الخدمات التعليمية والصحية، و45.6% حرمن من السكن والعمل في القدس و12.2% حرمن من الحصول على الهوية أو البطاقة الممغنطة أو هددن بسحب الهوية المقدسية، و87.3% تم مصادرة اموال وسيارة وفرض ضرائب، و14.6% منعن من السفر إلى الخارج أو مغادرة القدس من مجموع النساء اللواتي تعرضن للعنف.
النساء المقيمات بالقرب من المستوطنات
لقد أبرزت النتائج المتعلقة بالنساء المقيمات بالقرب من المستوطنات أن 91.5% من اللواتي تعرضن لعنف الاحتلال والمستوطنين تعرضن لاستنشاق الغاز كما تعرضن لقنابل الصوت وإطلاق الرصاص من قبل الاحتلال والمستوطنين، و85.2% تعرضن للإهانة والشتيمة. بالإضافة إلى أن و79.9% من النساء تم منعهن من الحصول على الخدمات والرعاية الصحية وقطاع المياه عنهن، و5.4% من النساء أفدن بسرقة الأرض أو المحصول وذلك خلال 12 شهرا الماضية. كما أفادت البيانات أن 27.4% من النساء أشرن أن الجيش الإسرائيلي هو من أكثر الفئات اعتداءً على النساء المقيمات بالقرب من المستوطنات يليه المستوطنون بنسبة 26.2% وما نسبته 36.6% يرون أن الجيش والمستوطنين والشرطة وحرس الحدود والمخابرات قد شاركوا جميعهم في الاعتداء على النساء في هذه المناطق، وهناك 4.9% من المحتلين الذين مروا من هذه المناطق قد شاركوا في الاعتداء على النساء.
الأسيرات المحررات
أما بالنسبة للأسيرات المحررات فقد تميز البحث بإبرازه حجم معاناتهن جراء الانتهاكات اللواتي تعرضن لها أثناء فترة اعتقالهن، إذ أشارت النتائج أن غالبية الأسيرات قد تعرضن للضرب أثناء فترة اعتقالهن من البيت أو الحواجز من قبل جنود الاحتلال و88.5% تعرضن للإهانة والسب والشتم، و78.8% من الأسيرات أفدن بمنعهن من إحضار الأدوية الخاصة بهن أو حاجياتهن.
النساء المقيمات بالقرب من الجدار
في حين أظهرت النتائج المتعلقة بالمقيمات بالقرب من الجدار، أن 22.3% من اللواتي تعرضن لعنف الاحتلال والمستوطنين، و38.4% تعرضن للإهانة والشتيمة. كما أن 30.5% من النساء أفدن بأنهن منعن من إعطاء التصاريح للمرور من البوابات وأن المنزل، قد اقتحم من قبل الجيش الإسرائيلي أكثر من مرة، و8.5% قد منعن من الحركة والتنقل.
علاقة طردية بين عنف الاحتلال والعنف داخل الأسرة
لقد أظهرت النتائج الكيفية من مخرجات البحث الكمية كما تقول فداء البرغوثي وجود علاقة طردية ما بين العنف الموجه من الاحتلال الإسرائيلي ضد أحد أفراد الأسر المشاركة في البحث والعنف الموجه ضد النساء في العينة، كما في حالة النساء المقدسيات التي أفادت بتعرض 44.1% من أفراد أسرهن (الزوج أو رب الأسرة أو أي فرد من أفراد الأسرة) للاعتداء من قبل الاحتلال أو المستوطنين، ما انعكس على تعرض 62.1% منهن لشكل واحد من أشكال العنف من قبل أحد أفراد الأسرة منهم؛ 72.7% قد تعرضهن للعنف الجسدي، و 90.2% للعنف النفسي من قبل أحد أفراد أسرهن الرجال. وكذلك الأمر بالنسبة للنساء المقيمات قرب المستوطنات اللواتي أفدن بتعرض أكثر من ثلث أفراد أسرهن للاعتداء من قبل الاحتلال أو المستوطنين، وكان لهذه الاعتداءات تبعاتها على تعرضهن للعنف داخل أسرهن، حيث أشارت النتائج أن 52.3% من النساء تعرضن للعنف الجسدي، و 77.1% للعنف النفسي سواء كن من قبل الزوج أو أحد أفراد الأسرة".
معطيات لافتة
وتقل وتيرة العنف الموجه ضد النساء بانخفاض نسب الاعتداء التي يتعرض لها أحد أفراد أسر النساء المشاركات في البحث، ما يؤكد على وجود علاقة طردية ما بين الاعتداءات التي يتعرض لها الرجال في العائلة والعنف الأسري التي تتعرض له النساء داخل أسرهن. كما في حالة النساء المقيمات بالقرب من الجدار، اللواتي أفدن بتعرض أحد أفراد أسرهن للاعتداء من قبل المحتل بنسبة أقل وصلت إلى حوالي الربع، ما انعكس على انخفاض نسب تعرضهن للعنف الأسري إذ أفادت 22.3% منهن للعنف الجسدي، و43.8% للعنف النفسي من قبل أحد من أفراد الأسرة. الأمر نفسه يتكرر عند الحديث عن النساء المقيمات بالقرب من المستوطنات إذ أشارت النساء إلى تعرض 20.9% من أفراد أسرهن، للاعتداء من قبل الاحتلال أو المستوطنين، ما انعكس على انخفاض تعرضهن للعنف داخل أسرهن، فقد أفادت النتائج إلى أن 28.1% من النساء تعرضن للعنف الجسدي، 14.1 و 50.0% للعنف النفسي.
معاناة مضاعفة
وتضيف البرغوثي:" .. ومما خلص إليه التقرير، هو أن حجم الانتهاكات والمعاناة التي تتعرض لها النساء في المواقع المختارة، يجعلهن الأكثر انكشافا لعوامل الصراع كونهن يتأثرن بشكل مضاعف مقارنة بالفئات الأخرى بالمجتمع، مع ما يتبعه من انعكاسات ومسؤوليات وأعباء ملقاة على عاتق النساء اللواتي يجب أن يوفرن لعائلاتهن الأمن والأمان، وهن أبعد ما يكن عنهـا بالإضافة إلى الظروف المحيطة بأسر النساء اللواتي شملتهن الدراسة كما أبرزته نتائج الدراسة، التي أفادت بتعرض غالبيتهن لضغوط اقتصادية واجتماعية منها على سبيل المثال: زيادة مسؤوليات الزوج وضغوطات العمل، تعرض أحد أفراد الأسرة لمشاكل صحية أدى إلى ذهابهم للمستشفى، زيادة أعباء رعاية الأسرين والوالدين والأهل بحكم أن أن غالبيتهن سبق لهن الزواج، باستثناء الأسيرات المحررات التي لم تتجاوز نسبة من سبق لهن الزواج 45.9%. هذا بالإضافة إلى تلقيهن الردود الغاضبة من قبل الذكور في العائلة، في حال تعرضوا إلى انتهاكات أو في حال تم ممارسة أي شكل من أشكال العنف عليه. وبالنظر إلى الخصائص الديمغرافية، نجد أن غالبية النساء في مختلف المواقع التي شملتها الدراسة ذوات تحصيل متدني ثانوية فأقل، كما أن غالبيتهن لا يعملن، وبالتالي هذا يجعل النساء ضمن هذه الحالة، أحد الفئات الاجتماعية الأكثر انكشافا لعوامل الفقر والبطالة والتهميش، والذي ساهم في زيادة الأعباء المنزلية والدور الإنجابي للنساء من اجل استمرارية الأسرة وأمنها المعيشي في ظل سوء الأوضاع السياسية والاقتصادية.
وبالرغم من نتائج المسح الكمي التي أظهرت تعرض النساء لمعيقات أبرزها الاحتلال باعتباره يشكل تهديدا على الأمن الإنساني للجميع وبشكل خاص على النساء مما يزيد من وطأة مهامهن في الحيز الخاص، وبالإضافة إلى تعرضهن لأحد أو كل أشكال العنف النفسي والجسدي وتدني المستوى التعليمي وقلة الفرص المتاحة لهن في العمل وشح الموارد ناهيك عن الظروف الاقتصادية والاجتماعية المحيطة بأسرهن، والفرص المتاحة لهن، إلا أن ذلك لا يمكنه أن يقلل من قيمة الأدوار التي تمارسها النساء لحماية عائلاتهن.
المعاني الحقيقية للخبرات والتجارب
وهذا بالتحديد ما أظهرته نتائج المجموعة البؤرية التي أعطت المعاني الحقيقية لخبرات وتجارب ومعاناة وقوة النساء الفلسطينيات المستهدفات في الدراسة، في ظل سياق احتلالي يسلبهن حقوقهن وحقوق عائلاتهن. إذ لعب عامل الاحتلال الإسرائيلي دورا في خلق مزيد من التحدي والإصرار للعمل على مواجهة الظروف الصعبة التي تمارس عليهن وعائلاتهن من قبل الاحتلال وذلك بإتباع استراتيجيات وآليات إما معلنة أو غير معلنة بحسب ما تقتضيه المصلحة.
الاستفادة من نتائج البحث
وكانت نجوى ياغي مديرة مشاريع في المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح"، استهلت جلسة النقاش بتقديم عن طبيعة مشروع "نحو مأسسة القرار 1325 لتحقيق الأمن والسلم للمرأة الفلسطينية" الممول من أوكسفام، ومن خلال هذا المشروع تم تطوير مجموعة من الاستمارات التي كانت "مفتاح"، قامت بإعدادها من خلال صندوق الأمم المتحدة للسكان ( UNFPA)، حيث "استطعنا من خلال هذا المشروع تحويل الاستمارة الواحدة إلى خمس استمارات تتعلق بالمقدسيات، والأسيرات، والمقيمات قرب الجدار، وبالقرب من المستوطنات، والمقيمات قرب المستوطنات، عبر النهج التشاركي مع أعضاء اللجنة الوطنية العليا لتطبيق القرار 1325 وأعضاء الائتلاف الوطني لتطبيق القرار في فلسطين ومجموعة من الخبراء في مجال حقوق الإنسان والقرار 1325". وأضافت ياغي:" قامت مجموعة من الخبراء بدراسة هذه الاستمارات لتشمل الانتهاكات التي يمكن أن تجرم الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، وبعد الانتهاء من الاستمارة النهائية، نظمت "مفتاح"، حملة توثيق الانتهاكات ضد المرأة الفلسطينية في جميع أنحاء الضفة الغربية، مع الإشارة إلى أن "مفتاح" ذهبت إلى التوجه القائل بضرورة وجود مجموعة من الأسئلة داخل الاستمارة للربط ما بين العنف الأسرى وعنف الاحتلال، ولذلك تم إضافتها إلى استمارة الحملة، وبالتالي دلت نتائج الدراسة على أنه كلما زاد قمع الاحتلال زاد العنف الأسري".
وحثت ياغي الائتلاف الوطني الذي يترأسه الاتحاد العام للمرأة الفلسطينية، واللجنة الوطنية لتطبيق القرار 1325 التي تترأسها وزيرة شؤون المرأة، على الاستفادة من هذه الدراسة ومن نتائجها ومخرجاتها لدى صياغتهما للخطط التنفيذية للإستراتيجية الوطنية لتطبيق القرار 1325، وتوضع في الإطار التنفيذي، وأن يبدأ الاتحاد العام كرئيس للائتلاف بالبدء بعملية توثيق الانتهاكات".
MIFTAH releases 2021-2022 comparative actual spending reports for the social and security sectors, including social justice and gender indicators
Date posted: April 04, 2023
By MIFTAH
MIFTAH recently released 2021-2022 comparative actual spending reports for the social sector (health, education, higher education and scientific research, social development and labor), and for the first time, the security sector (Ministry of Interior and National Security). The reports were based on annual financial data released by the Ministry of Finance in Palestine for 2021-2022 and on an accrual basis.
The data showed that the Ministry of Interior and National Security had the highest percentage of actual spending in 2022, accounting for 22.8% of overall public expenditures, or ILS3.68 billion. This was a slight increase from the Ministry’s share in 2021. Meanwhile, actual spending on the education sector (Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research) stood at 21.5% of overall public expenditures, or ILS3.48 billion. This was also an increase from the education sector’s share in 2021, which was 20.6% of public expenditures.
Moreover, actual spending on the Ministry of Health also increased in 2022, comprising 15% of overall public expenditures, at a sum of ILS2.4 billion. This was higher than in 2021, where its share was 14.4%. As for the Ministry of Social Development, actual spending was still low, amounting for 6.2% of overall public expenditures in 2022, compared to 5.8% in 2021. The Ministry of Social Development’s actual spending in 2022 was approximately ILS1 billion. As for the labor sector, actual spending on this sector in 2022 was 0.31% of overall public expenditures, while in 2021 it was 0.28%. Actual spending on the labor sector in 2022 was ILS50.1 million.
Upon review of actual spending reports of the targeted ministries from a gender and social justice perspective, it is clear that actual spending on the Ministry of Social Development does not coincide with the scope of its responsibilities as the forerunner of the social sector in Palestine, including its programs for combatting poverty and the protection of poor and marginalized social sectors. Moreover, non-compliance to the disbursement of payments for poor families within the CTP continued according to estimates, whereby only two of four installments for 2022 were disbursed, one at minimum value. This adversely affected the financial security of the most underprivileged and marginalized sectors of society, in addition to the insufficient estimated budget and actual spending on the social protection program, in spite of its importance in providing protection and social services to battered women, children, special-needs persons and the elderly.
The data also pointed to the low percentage of women working in the security sector, which stood at 6% of the total number of workers in this sector, while they comprised 46% of the civil sector. This shows a gap in actual spending on the security sector from a gender perspective, given that the lion’s share of actual spending in 2022 was on salaries and wages. Hence, women only benefited very little from these allocations, which were nearly ILS2.9 billion in 2022.
The data also indicated that the development expenditures for the Ministry of Labor were only ILS4.5 million in 2022, even though planned development expenditures were ILS32 million, which is much higher. This casts a shadow on gender-related programs and projects, which were allotted sizeable budgets within development expenditures, such as creating sustainable opportunities as alternatives for Palestinian men and women working in settlements, for which ILS10 million were earmarked.
Even though there was an increase in actual spending in 2022 at the targeted ministries in general, this increase was mainly concentrated on salaries and wages. In spite of the importance of providing a decent life for employees, there is still a need to increase spending on development expenditures, since they are at the forefront of developing government services, including the nationalization and institutionalization of various social services.
MIFTAH concludes town hall meetings on political participation and citizens’ rights for women and youth
Date posted: January 09, 2023
By MIFTAH
Ramallah – 29/12/2022 – Within its efforts to promote democratic values and the peaceful transfer of power within the Palestinian government system, MIFTAH’s field advisory team completed over 100 town hall meetings in the second half of 2022. The meetings were held in coordination and cooperation with CSOs, LGUs and grassroots organizations and targeted women and youth in several West Bank and Gaza Strip districts. The objective of these meetings was to raise awareness among the electorate on the electoral system in Palestine and on civil society demands to increase women and youth participation in local and general elections as candidates and voters, on the premise that this boosts their presence in decision-making levels and involves them in public affairs.
The town hall meetings included several exchange visits between LGU members in the various districts. The women shared the experiences and challenges they faced after becoming council members. The meetings focused on the concept of citizenship within a broader definition of the various forms of political participation and the importance of involvement from youth and women in public life. They also pointed to the different forms of democracy and the main pillars of the democratic society Palestinians seek to create. The participants furthermore discussed the various forms of electoral systems and shed light on the gaps in electoral laws regarding the presence of women and youth.
The participants pointed to the importance of periodic legislative and presidential elections and the danger of the ongoing absence of the PLC on matters pertaining to civic peace. They also warned against the absence of oversight and accountability, maintaining that the defunct PLC has contributed to shrinking civic space and public freedoms and therefore, the ability or desire to become involved in political life, especially for women and youth. In most of the meetings, the participants also indicated that the absence of a regular democratic process in Palestine contributed to the overall exclusion of youth from participation and to the marginalization of the role of women in Palestinian political decision-making.
The town hall meetings stressed on the importance of pressing for legislative, presidential and local elections in all West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip districts. They also endorsed the demand for equality in electoral laws, starting with raising the women’s quota to a minimum of 30%, raising the candidacy age and lowering the threshold. They urged Palestinian factions to assume a key role in the process of inclusion for women and youth in the public sphere and to prevent the progression of tribalism in the democratic process. The attendees emphasized the importance of monitoring the performance of LGUs in their interaction with local communities and the consistency of their meetings. Finally, they said female council members must be given the opportunity to exercise their role in their respective councils as equals to their male counterparts.
MIFTAH holds town hall meetings on an annual basis as part of its awareness campaign on citizens’ rights and the promotion of the democratic approach for a peaceful transfer of power, in addition to the involvement of women and youth in elections as both candidates and voters. Each year, through these town hall meetings, MIFTAH aims to reach the widest possible segment of the electorate and the different social sectors in all parts of Palestine.
MIFTAH completes training workshop in the Gaza Strip on family protection and advocacy
Date posted: January 05, 2023
By MIFTAH
Gaza – 2/1/2023 – MIFTAH recently completed a training workshop on measures and regulations on family protection in the Gaza Strip. The workshop was part of MIFTAH’s strategic objectives to prioritize family issues in communities and to support local institutions in increasing awareness on citizenship and constitutional rights for Palestinian women and on combatting all forms of GBV and discrimination in Palestinian society.
The workshop’s objectives included providing institutions with important information on the legislations, laws and measures for family protection in effect in the Gaza Strip, in a bid to enhance the oversight role of CSOs in holding accountable official parties responsible for enforcing these measures and legislations. The training also included offering institutions the necessary mechanisms for managing digital and media campaigns to press for the ratification of laws and legislation that protect women’s rights.
The discussions focused on a number of points, including legal (including sharia law) rebuttals to claims from parties opposing legislation, including the Family Protection Law. They also discussed how applicable this law would be in the Gaza Strip once ratified by the President.
The participants unanimously agreed that they supported adoption of the law, giving no credence to the claims of more extreme elements in Gaza on the Family Protection Law. They called on MIFTAH to hold general, open meetings with the public to introduce them to the law and its importance, so that they could defend themselves from the extremist discourse surrounding it.
Opinions and impressions
One of the participants, Latifa Shatat, said such training workshops were crucial for every Palestinian, male and female. “It is great we are pressing for protection laws such as the Family Protection Bill. This law will have tremendous impact on society as a whole. I can say from experience as a social and mental health worker that protection is the most important element in our work, especially in cases involving women and children, who are the most vulnerable social sectors. I commend MIFTAH and anyone who participates in spreading a culture of nonviolence, protection, justice and equality.”
Meanwhile, Haifa Al Araj said the training offered important details about the Family Protection Law and also ways of conducting initiatives and activities that could produce positive results in mobilizing support it.
Another participant, Hatem Abu Ta’a, said the training was a new starting point for him as an institution director in terms of integrating the demand to implement the Family Protection Law in all advocacy and lobbying activities and programs. He said he became more aware of the impediments to the law’s implementation at the official and social level, saying, “This training reminds us to renew our calls to demand implementation and ratification of the law at the official level.”
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abu Rabee said ratification of the Family Protection Law would be a huge step, for women and children especially. “This law will amplify women’s voices and their ability to access help with stronger and more supportive centers throughout the homeland. As a strong supporter of this bill, I want to stress on the importance of civil society institutions explaining the clauses in the bill pertaining to CEDAW and to also focus on working with parties that oppose the law in particular.”
The training workshop is part of MIFTAH’s “Policy dialogue and Good Governance” Program, which aims at influencing public policies and legislation in favor of protection for citizens’ rights in Palestinian society, based on the principles of social justice and respect for human rights.
