MIFTAH held a meeting last week with representatives from several Palestinian factions, entitled “Actual representation of women and youth in electoral lists.”
The participants discussed ways in which to increase women’s representation in electoral lists in line with recommendations by civil society organizations and according to the pledge made by national factions in the covenant “Promoting women’s participation in political decision-making.” This covenant was signed on November 1, 2010 and includes seven main points, all of which reaffirm the importance of the role of Palestinian women in the national struggle, their political participation and their right to be in decision-making positions. The discussion was also in line with recommendations made by the Palestinian Central Council in its last session, held in March, 2015, namely its ninth recommendation, which reaffirmed the “need to achieve full equality for women, promote their participation in all PLO and Palestinian institutions, with participation in these institutions to be no less than 30%.”
The participants stressed on the need to form a coalition that would support lowering the candidacy age to 21 and support women beingrepresented at the top of electoral lists, especially in major cities This, they said, would reflect significantly on the status and role of women. They also said it was imperative to amend the current elections law after the end of October local elections 2016.
The participants all agreed on their commitment to the code of honor signed by the various Palestinian factions with the exception of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
As for youth representation and the scope of their participation in electoral lists, some participants said this was more difficult than women’s representation given that the law [pertaining to the candidacy age] cannot be broken.Regarding women, they maintained, one major obstacle is that their representation clashes with the patriarchal and male mentality, even among leftist and secular forces and prominent families, who only want a man to represent them
Furthermore, the speakers called for confirming the right of women leaders to participate in sessions on the formation of lists, calling for the release of a statement that reaffirms this right. They also stressed on the importance of preserving pluralism, democracy, transparency and promoting the principle of accountability.
Some participants said women’s movements in the various political factions were the best tool for pressuring leaders in these political factions, stressing on the importance of reviving the role of the media in this regard. This includes training women on how to handle the media and adopting a quick plan for training qualified women candidates from the various districts to support them both before and after elections.
The attendees also listened to a presentation on MIFTAH’s efforts towards supporting women’s participation in the elections, both through training and empowerment by targeting over 150 women activists in the various districts via MIFTAH’s network of coordinators. Recently, 56 potential women candidates from the various factions were given training which rendered them more capable of participating and running in the elections. The factions to which the women belonged were also brought into the discussion so that the women would be included in the candidacy lists, some of whom are now heading them.
The participants also addressed President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision regarding the Christian quota and ensuring a Christian representation in major cities such as Ramallah, Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Zababdeh in accordance with Article 71 of the amended elections law, which stresses on pluralism.
They also agreed that political factions representatives who participated in the meeting and the women trained by MIFTAH would remain in contact so they are to be represented in the political factions’ electoral lists in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, faction representatives said they would convey the session’s recommendations to the meeting of PLO factions, held on August 11, in order to prompt Palestinian factions to commit to real and actual representation of women when forming their electoral lists for the upcoming local council elections.
بحضور ممثلي الفصائل..
جلسة نقاش في 'مفتاح' بعنوان: 'التمثيل الحقيقي للنساء والشباب في القوائم الانتخابية'
تاريخ النشر: 11/08/2016
بقلم: مفتاح
بدعوة من المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية- مفتاح، وبحضور ممثلين عن عدد من الفصائل الفلسطينية، عقدت أمس جلسة نقاش بعنوان:" التمثيل الحقيقي للنساء والشباب في القوائم الانتخابية".
وبحث المشاركون في الجلسة، الآلية التي يمكن من خلالها زيادة تمثيل النساء في قوائم الانتخابات، انسجاما مع توصيات مؤسسات المجتمع المدني، ووفق ما تعهدت به الفصائل الوطنية، في ميثاق "تعزيز مشاركة المرأة في صنع القرار السياسي" الموقع بتاريخ الأول من تشرين الثاني 2010، المشتمل على سبع نقاط رئيسية، تؤكد جميعها على أهمية دور المرأة الفلسطينية في النضال الوطني والمشاركة السياسية وحقها في التواجد في مراكز صنع القرار، والتزامها بما ورد في الميثاق، وكذلك انسجاما أيضا مع توصيات المجلس المركزي الفلسطيني في جلسته الأخيرة التي عقدت في شهر آذار من العام 2015، خاصة توصيته التاسعة التي أكد فيها على "ضرورة تحقيق المساواة الكاملة للمرأة، وتعزيز مشاركتها في كافة مؤسسات منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية ودولة فلسطين، وأن لا تقل نسبة مشاركتها في هذه المؤسسات عن 30% ".
وأكد المشاركون في الجلسة على تبلور ائتلاف يدعم خفض سن الترشح إلى 21 عاما، وأن تتمثل المرأة في رأس القوائم الانتخابية للفصائل، خاصة في المدن الكبيرة، حيث يمكن للمرأة أن يكون هناك تمثيل واضح ومتقدم، وأن لا تقل نسبة مشاركتها عن 30% " كحد أدنى. ما سيكون لهذا انعكاسات مهمة على مكانة المرأة ودورها، مع التأكيد أيضا على ضرورة وأهمية تعديل قانون الانتخاب الحالي بعد الانتهاء من الدورة الانتخابية المقررة في الثامن من تشرين أول القادم.
وأجمع المشاركون على التزامهم الفعلي بوثيقة الشرف التي وقعتها مختلف الفصائل الفلسطينية في حين لم توقعها كل من حماس والجهاد الإسلامي.
أما فيما يتعلق بتمثيل الشباب وحجم مشاركتهم في القوائم الانتخابية، فاعتبر بعض المتحدثين ذلك أكثر صعوبة من تمثيل المرأة، بالنظر إلى أنه لا يمكن خرق القانون، ولأن هذا التمثيل يصطدم بالعقلية الذكورية حتى لدى القوى اليسارية والعلمانية، ولدى العائلات الكبيرة التي لا تريد إلا رجلا يمثلها.
في حين، دعا المتحدثون إلى التأكيد على حق النساء القياديات بالمشاركة في جلسات التشاور لتشكيل القوائم ، وأن يصدر بيان بهذا الخصوص يؤكد على هذا الحق، والمحافظة على التعددية والديمقراطية والشفافية لتعزيز مبدأ المساءلة.
فيما اعتبر آخرون، أن المنظمات النسوية في مختلف الفصائل، هي أداة الضغط الأنسب على قيادات هذه الأحزاب، وشددوا على أهمية تفعيل دور الاعلام بهذا الخصوص، بما يشمل تدريب النساء على التعامل مع وسائل الاعلام المختلفة، وتبني خطة تدريب سريعة لنساء يتمتعن بالكفاءة من مختلف المحافظات لدعمهن قبل الانتخابات وبعدها.
وكان المشاركون في الجلسة استمعوا إلى عرض للجهود التي تبذلها "مفتاح" في دعم مشاركة المرأة في الانتخابات تدريبا وتمكينا وتعزيز هذه المشاركة من خلال استهداف أكثر من 150 من كوادر وناشطات نسوية من مختلف المحافظات، عبر شبكة منسقات "مفتاح" في مختلف المحافظات، فيما تم مؤخرا الانتهاء من تدريب 56 كادرا نسويا من جميع الفصائل، ومن خلال سلسلة من اللقاءات الجماهيرية، بتن يتمتع بقدرة على المشاركة في الانتخابات والمنافسة فيها، في حين جرى التواصل مع الفصائل التي تنتمي إليها هذه الكوادر لتضمينهن في قوائم الترشيح للانتخابات، ويترأسن بعض القوائم، وأن يوضع الشخص المناسب في المكان المناسب.
كما تطرق الحضور إلى قرار الرئيس محمود عباس أبو مازن الأخير، فيما يتعلق بالكوتا المسيحية، وتثبيت التمثيل المسيحي في المدن الرئيسية مثل: رام الله، بيت لحم، بيت جالا، والزبابدة، وفقا لما نصت عليه المادة 71 من قانون تعديل الانتخابات، تأكيدا على التعددية.
واتفق خلال الجلسة على أن يتم التواصل من قبل الفصائل المشاركة في الاجتماع والنساء اللواتي دربتهن "مفتاح"، ليمثلن تلك الفصائل في الانتخابات المقبلة، بعد أن أصبحن مؤهلات وقادرات على القيام بدورهن.
وأكد ممثلو الفصائل التزامهم بنقل توصيات الجلسة إلى الاجتماع الذي سيضم فصائل منظمة التحرير يوم الخميس الموافق 11/8/2016 لوضع المشاركين فيه بتوصيات الجلسة والضغط باتجاه التزام الفصائل الفلسطينية بتمثيل حقيقي للمرأة في مرحلة تشكيل القوائم الانتخابية لانتخابات الهيئات المحلية.
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.
