Ramallah – Under the auspices of Dr. Amal Hamad, Minister of Women’s Affairs, and as part of the “Shufuna” project, MIFTAH launched its ‘’Shufuna” strategy for integrating women and youth in decision-making positions and at the national reconciliation table during a meeting on November 26.
MIFTAH Executive Director, Dr. Tahreer Araj opened the meeting, saying the “Shufuna” platform for active representation and participation of women at the national dialogue table and in decision-making positions is a continuation of efforts to promote the leadership role of women and youth. She said it also aims to push for these sectors’ involvement in political decision making and formulation of public policies along with their representation in national dialogue circles. Araj said through its program “Policy Dialogue and Good Governance”, MIFTAH was able to set the tone for a climate of interactive dialogue for women and youth from various backgrounds, professions and political affiliations at the grassroots and elite levels, in order to discuss the challenges that hamper their integration in political life. It also allowed them to discuss the reasons behind the absence of women and youth in national reconciliation and unity talks.
Araj continued, “MIFTAH, in partnership with UNDP and “Wattan” Media Network, seeks to provide democratic dialogue spaces on the topic of women’s political participation in the Palestinian socioeconomic context. This includes discussing challenges, such as the extent of political will for reforming laws and legislation in combatting the patriarchal male culture in Palestinian society and for developing policies that guarantee gender equality and justice through organizing a group of interventions.”
Sufian Mshasha, special deputy representative for UNDP then delivered a speech as funder and project partner, saying that unlike other projects, “this was self-funded, which heightened our interest in the strategy’s launching, which is not the end of the road, but an accumulation of past activities. We feel this strategy sets the basis for continuous action to promote a real role for women in decision-making and not only to address the political division and participation in reconciliation committees. Hence, the “Shufuna” strategy is a launching point that cannot be assessed only by being launched but through criteria on the strategy’s effectiveness and the extent to which we were able to create real participation.”
Ahlam Al Wahsh, who spoke on behalf of “Shufuna”, said they held several awareness and consultation meetings, which culminated in the formation of a platform that included a number of women and youth. “We aspire to reach decision-making positions so we can have a role at the reconciliation and dialogue table because women have been marginalized and excluded from these places. We base this on the premise that rights are indivisible and that principles unite us, most importantly the principles of freedom of opinion and expression, guaranteed by our Palestinian resistance history towards active representation and participation of women at the national dialogue table and in decision-making positions. This is a women’s and youth interactive platform between the West Bank and Gaza Strip , which we hope to expand to social media platforms as well. We insist on being visible and that our women and youth can reach you through both real and virtual interactive arenas.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Women’s Affairs Dr. Amal Hamad thanked MIFTAH for its work in addressing priorities and needs and having a clear vision on the challenges facing Palestinian women. In her presentation, Hamad broached several issues, including the importance of partnership between the government and civil society as a partner with an active role in needs and priorities-based policies, programs and interventions. She said this was the foundation on which the Ministry of Women’s Affairs operates with civil society institutions. In this regard, she maintained that the Ministry of Women’s Affairs addressed the topic of political partnership, pointing to the sectoral strategy of the ministry, which is primarily aimed at empowering women and helping them reach decision-making positions in all PLO bodies and unions and within factions and parties. These parties, she maintained, must take the initiative in implementing PNC and Central Council decisions regarding the women’s quota, which could be achieved through working on laws and legislations.
This was followed by a presentation of Shufuna’s strategic plan by Hatem Taha, member of the platform. He presented Shufuna’s vision, which revolves around real representation and active participation of Palestinian women in national dialogues and decision-making positions. He also shed light on the most important objectives of the plan, which confirm women’s active participation in democratic transfer of power, representation in decision-making positions, in national reconciliation and ending the division.
Shadia Abu Sultan and Yassin Abu Odeh then presented the most important virtual and face-to-face initiatives planned by the platform through several meetings it held in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The most standout initiate was the “Shufuna” national reconciliation bus and the friendly football match between Palestinian factions.
Regarding the values and principles adopted by the strategy, Sami Sa’aee explained that Shufuna's strategy is based on belief in the values of societal peace, democracy, freedom of opinion and expression and all values that promote citizenship, respect for pluralism, ability for free thought and constructive criticism, sustainability of leadership skills development and leadership of an initiative for change towards reaching the aspired goal of the Shufuna platform.
Furthermore, Wijdan Buheisi showcased the most important pillars of the Shufuna strategic plan, namely the Palestinian Declaration of Independence and the strategic approaches in the national policies agenda in addition to the approaches of the international community in empowering women and combatting all forms of gender-based discrimination.
The presentation also included an analysis of women’s situation during the division. Rasha Nofal said the Shufuna strategy confirmed that women are the most affected by the division at the economic, social and political levels. The political division, she maintained, poses a direct threat to the Palestinian right to life, with 1,098 Palestinians who lost their lives between 2007 and 2017 due to internecine violence, the proliferation of weapons and deaths in detention centers in addition to other unnatural causes of death with the exception of martyrs who died as a result of Israeli violations. The abovementioned number is divided as follows: 11% of deaths (or 127 cases) occurred in the West Bank while the remaining 89% took place in the Gaza Strip (971 cases).
Moreover, the presentation included statistics on women’s participation, which indicated that although women comprise 49% of the population of Palestine and head 11% of Palestinian households, their role in public political life and at the national dialogue table was clearly absent.
Interventions and recommendations
One of the most significant interventions was made by journalist Reem Omari from the Wattan Media Network in which she reiterated Wattan’s objectives in promoting women’s participation and representation in various political arenas and sectors. She said the network believes in the need to focus on the issues of marginalized sectors such as women and youth. She continued that this was realized through the “Shufuna” interventions that included several multimedia talk shows, short videos, radio spots and messages through social media in addition to online petitions and polls. Shufuna’s main program in its first season reached approximately four million viewers. Also through its media campaign, “Wattan” introduced the “Shufuna” platform by covering its activities and news. In addition, it discussed important issues that affect women’s participation, including religious discourse, representation in political parties in elections, student councils, unions and federations. “Wattan” also focused on the vital role of women in crisis management and hosting international influencers to introduce them to the Palestinian experience such as Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsur. The highlight of the campaign was appointing Dr. Naser Al Qudwa as Shufuna’s ambassador to carry the campaign’s messages and recommendations to decision-makers at the political level.
At the end of the meeting, several interventions and recommendations were presented, all of which confirmed that the platform was a unique and pioneer experience meant to achieve the main goal of promoting women’s participation and empowering them at all decision-making levels. Other objectives, they agreed, include achieving social justice and equality, the need to form a committee for serious pressure and demands pertaining to women’s participation in reconciliation committees, conducting field visits to those in charge of reconciliation files in order to press them in that direction and to work on raising youth awareness to the importance of their role and participation in decision-making.
MIFTAH program director, Lamis Shuaibi said the launch day for the Shufuna strategy was a success for all the partners’ efforts towards more community interaction. She added that the platform embodies national and social unity within a unified rather than factional framework. “What we need right now is for the platform to be able to lead itself and to be able to determine its own tools and executive plans.” Shuaibi continued that MIFTAH and its partners were willing to offer every possible help within this open space, not only through social media but also through actions on the ground.”
Furthermore, MIFTAH project manager Najwa Yaghi-Sandouka said the meeting falls under the efforts of MIFTAH’s partner institutions in building a concept on the participation of Palestinian women given the importance of women’s role in building state institutions and impacting the formulation of public policies and national legislation. This, she said, is in response to the needs of various social components and in a bid to increase higher representation of women and youth within the Palestinian political system. Yaghi-Sandouka maintained that such efforts would contribute to institutionalizing citizenship rights for Palestinians on the grounds of equality, partnership, pluralism, respect for liberties and the achievement of human dignity.
'مفتاح' تطلق استراتيجية 'شوفونا' نحو إدماج النساء والشباب في مواقع صنع القرار وعلى طاولات الحوار الوطني
تاريخ النشر: 30/11/2020
بقلم: مفتاح
رام الله – 26/11/ 2020 - تحت رعاية الدكتورة آمال حمد وزيرة شؤون المرأة، وضمن مشروع "شوفونا" أطلقت المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" خلال لقاء مفتوح عقد في السادس والعشرين من تشرين الثاني 2020 استراتيجية "شوفونا" نحو إدماج النساء والشباب في مواقع صنع القرار وعلى طاولات الحوار الوطني.
استهل اليوم المفتوح بكلمة مؤسسة "مفتاح" ألقتها د. تحرير الأعرج المديرة التنفيذية للمؤسسة، قالت فيها: " إن تشكيل "منصّة شوفونا نحو تمثيلٍ ومشاركةٍ فعّالةٍ للنّساء على طاولةِ الحواراتِ الوطنيّةِ وفي مراكز صنع القرار" تأتي استكمالاً للجهود التي تقوم بها المبادرة الفلسطينية لتعميق الحوار العالمي والديمقراطية "مفتاح" في تعزيز الدور القيادي للنساء والشباب والضغط باتجاه انخراطهم/ن في صياغة القرار السياسي ورسم السياسات العامة، وتمثيلهم/ن في دوائر الحوار الوطني، حيث عملت مؤسسة "مفتاح" ومن خلال برنامجها "حوار السياسات والحكم الرشيد" على تهيئة بيئة حوارية وتفاعلية للنساء والشباب من خلفيات ومهن وانتماءات سياسية متنوعة على مستوى القاعدة والنخب لمناقشة التحديات التي تعيق دمجهم في الحياة السياسية، وتناقش الأسباب وراء غياب النساء والشباب عن حوارات المصالحة الوطنية وإعادة الوحدة الوطنية.
أضافت:" لقد سعت مؤسسة "مفتاح"، وبالشراكة مع برنامج الأمم المتحدة الانمائي UNDP وشبكة وطن الإعلامية إلى توفير المساحات الحوارية الديمقراطية حول واقع مشاركة النساء السياسية في السياق السياسي والاقتصادي الفلسطيني وما تعتريه من تحديات أبرزها مدى وجود الإرادة السياسية في عملية إصلاح القوانين والتشريعات في مواجهة الثقافة الأبوية الذكورية في المجتمع الفلسطيني، وتطوير السياسات التي من شأنها أن تعمل على ضمان تحقيق المساواة والعدالة ما بين الجنسين القائمة على النوع الاجتماعي من خلال تنظيم مجموعة من التدخلات".
بعد ذلك، ألقى سفيان مشعشع، مساعد الممثل الخاص لبرنامج الأمم المتحدة أل UNDP، كلمة الممول والشريك للمشروع، حيث أشار إلى أن هذا المشروع بعكس المشاريع الأخرى قد مُوّل ذاتياً، ما يعكس اهتمامنا بإطلاق موضوع الاستراتيجية وهو ليس نهاية المطاف". أضاف:" الاستراتيجية كانت في الواقع تعبيراً عن مجموعة من الأنشطة السابقة، ونحن نشعر بأن هذه الاستراتيجية هي منصة مستقبلية لعمل مستمر من أجل تعزيز دور المرأة الحقيقي في المشاركة بصنع القرار، وليس فقط معالجة ملف الانقسام والمشاركة في لجان المصالحة. وبالتالي المنصة ومشروع "شوفونا" هو نقطة انطلاق لا يتم تقييمه فقط من خلال إطلاق استراتيجية بل المعيار الأساسي في مدى فاعليتها المستقبلية، ومدى تمكننا من وضع مشاركة حقيقية وليست شكلية فقط".
في حين، لفتت كلمة المنصة التي ألقتها أحلام الوحش إلى أنه سبق تشكيل منصة "شوفونا" عدة لقاءات توعوية وإرشادية توّجت بتشكيل منصة تضمّ العديد من النساء والشباب. وقالت:" لدينا طموح بالوصول إلى مواقع صنع القرار من أجل أن يكون لدينا دور على طاولة الحوار والمصالحة، لأنّ هناك تهميشاً وإقصاءً للمرأة في هذه المواقع، على مبدأ أن الحقوق لا تتجزأ، وتجمعنا مبادئ أهمها حرية الرأي والتعبير التي يكفلها تاريخنا النضالي الفلسطيني، نحو تمثيلٍ ومشاركةٍ فعّالةٍ للنّساء على طاولةِ الحواراتِ الوطنيّةِ وفي مراكز صنع القرار هي منصة تفاعلية نسائية شبابية ما بين الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة، وتوسيع دائرة تفاعلنا على منصات التواصل الاجتماعي الافتراضية، مصمّمين على أن نكون مرئيين، ف"شوفونا" نحن النساء والشباب استطعنا أن نصل إليكم/ن في ساحات حقيقية وافتراضية تفاعلية".
من ناحيتها، عبّرت وزيرة شؤون المرأة د. آمال حمد في مداخلتها خلال اللقاء عن تقديرها لمؤسسة "مفتاح" وما تتمتع به من أداء مميز على الأرض حيث تلامس الأولويات والاحتياجات، وتتصف برؤية واضحة في كل التحديات التي تواجه المرأة الفلسطينية. وأكدت في سياق الكلمة على مجموعة من القضايا من أبرزها أهمية الشراكة بين الحكومة والتكامل مع المجتمع المدني باعتباره شريكاً فاعلاً وله دور أصيل في السياسات والبرامج والتدخلات التي تنطلق من احتياج ومن أولوية، وهو ما تعمل وزارة شؤون المرأة على أرضيته وانطلاقاً منه مع مؤسسات المجتمع المدني. وفي هذا الصدد تطرقت وزيرة شؤون المرأة إلى موضوعة المشاركة السياسية مشيرة إلى الاستراتيجية القطاعية للوزارة، والتي هدفت بالأساس إلى تمكين النساء ووصولهن إلى مراكز صنع القرار في جميع أطر منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية وأطرها واتحاداتها النقابية، وفي داخل الفصائل والأحزاب المطلوب منها أن تبادر أولاً إلى تجسيد قرارات المجلسيْن الوطني والمركزي بخصوص الكوتا النسائية من خلال العمل على التشريعات والقوانين التي تضمن تحقيق هذا الهدف.
بعد ذلك، جرى عرض للخطة الاستراتيجية لمنصة "شوفونا"، حيث عرض السيد حاتم طه عضو المنصة رؤية المنصة التي تتمحور حول التمثيل الحقيقي والمشاركة الفاعلة للنساء الفلسطينيات في الحوارات الوطنية ومراكز صنع القرار، وسلّط الضوء على أهم أهداف الخطة التي تؤكد على الشراكة النسوية الفاعلة في التداول الديمقراطي والتمثيل في مراكز صنع القرار، وفي المصالحة الوطنية وإنهاء الانقسام.
وعرضت السيدة شادية أبو سلطان والسيد ياسين أبو عودة بدورهما أهم المبادرات الالكترونية والوجاهية التي خططتها المنصة عبر سلسلة طويلة من الاجتماعات واللقاءات ونفذتها المنصة في الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة، وأهمها باص المصالحة الوطنية - باص شوفونا ومباراة كرة القدم الودية بمشاركة الفصائل الفلسطينية.
وحول القيم والمبادئ التي تبنتها الاستراتيجية أوضح السيد سامي الساعي بأن استراتيجية "شوفونا" أكدت على الإيمان بقيم السلم المجتمعي، والديمقراطية، وحرية الرأي والتعبير، وعلى جميع القيم التي تعزز المواطنة، واحترام التعددية والقدرة على التفكير والنقد البناء، وديمومة تطوير المهارات القيادية، وقيادة مبادرة التغيير وصولاً للهدف المرجو منه في إطار منهجية منصة "شوفونا".
فيما عرضت السيدة وجدان البحيصي أهم مرتكزات خطة "شوفونا" الاستراتيجية وأهمها وثيقة الاستقلال الفلسطينية، والتوجهات الاستراتيجية الواردة في أجندة السياسات الوطنية، بالإضافة إلى توجهات المجتمع الدولي في تمكين المرأة ومناهضة جميع أشكال التمييز القائم على النوع الاجتماعي.
وتضمّن الاستعراض تحليلاً لواقع النساء في ظل الانقسام، حيث أوضحت السيدة رشا نوفل بأن استراتيجية "شوفونا"، أكدت على أن النساء كنّ الأكثر تضرراً منه على مختلف الأصعدة، الاقتصادية والاجتماعية والسياسية، وقد ترتّب عن الانقسام السياسي الفلسطيني تهديداً مباشراً للحق الفلسطيني في الحياة، حيث بلغ عدد الفلسطينيين الذين فقدوا حقهم في الحياة خلال الفترة بين 2007-2017، 1098 مواطناً ، نتيجة لأعمال العنف الداخلية، وانتشار السلاح، والوفاة في مراكز التوقيف، وخلافه من الأسباب غير الطبيعية للوفاة، وذلك باستثناء الشهداء الذين سقطوا نتيجة انتهاكات الاحتلال. وقد جاء هذا العدد مقسماً بواقع (11%) في الضفة الغربية، أي بواقع ((127 حالة، فيما بلغت النسبة (89%) في قطاع غزة، بواقع (971) حالة.
كما تضمن العرض استعراضاً لمؤشرات إحصائية لواقع مشاركة المرأة الفلسطينية، فعلى الرغم من أن النساء يشكّلن ما نسبته 49% من عدد السكان في فلسطين، وترؤس النساء 11% من الأسر الفلسطينية، فقد بدا واضحاً تغييب دورهنّ في الحياة السياسية العامة وعلى طاولات الحوار الوطني.
مداخلات وتوصيات
كان من أهم المداخلات ما قدمته الإعلامية ريم العمري من شبكة وطن الإعلامية، والتي أكدت فيها على الأهداف التي رسمتها شبكة وطن، في تعزيز مشاركة النساء وتمثيلهن في مختلف المحافل والقطاعات، لا سيما السياسية، حيث آمنت منذ البداية، بضرورة الانحياز لقضايا الفئات المهمّشة، ومنها قضايا النساء والشباب، وتجلى ذلك خلال تنفيذ حملة "شوفونا" التي شملت البرامج الحوارية متعددة الوسائط والفيديوهات القصيرة والومضات الإذاعية والرسائل من خلال وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي والعرائض الالكترونية واستطلاعات الرأي الالكترونية، ووصل عدد مشاهدات برنامج "شوفونا" الرئيس في موسمه الأول ما يقارب 4 ملايين مشاهدة. كما عملت "وطن" من خلال حملتها الإعلامية على التعريف بمنصة "شوفونا" من خلال تغطية النشاطات والأخبار الخاصة بالمنصة، كما عملت على مناقشة القضايا الهامة التي تؤثر على مشاركة النساء، ومنها الخطاب الديني، والانتخابات، والتمثيل في الأحزاب السياسية ومجالس الطلبة والنقابات والاتحادات، كما شملت أيضاً التركيز على الدور الحيوي للنساء في إدارة الأزمات، واستضافة مؤثرات على مستوى دولي للاطلاع على التجربة الفلسطينية من خلال استضافة الناشطة السياسية الأمريكية من أصل فلسطيني ليندا صرصور، وتوّجت حملتها من خلال اختيار الدكتور ناصر القدوة سفيراً خاصاً ب"حملة شوفونا" لحمل جميع هذه الرسائل والتوصيات التي خرجت بها الحملة لصناع القرار على مستوى النظام السياسي.
وفي نهاية اللقاء تم استعراض العديد من المداخلات والتوصيات، التي أكدت على أن المنصة تجربة رائدة ومميزة من أجل تحقيق الهدف الرئيس بتعزيز مشاركة النساء وتمكينهن في مختلف مستويات القرار، وتحقيق العدالة الاجتماعية والمساواة، وضرورة تشكيل لجنة من أجل المطالبة والضغط الجدي فيما يتعلق بمشاركة النساء في لجان المصالحة، وإجراء زيارات ميدانية لمسؤولي ملفات المصالحة للضغط عليهم في هذا الاتجاه، والعمل على توعية الشباب بأهمية دورهم ومشاركتهم في صنع القرار.
بدورها، اعتبرت لميس الشعيبي مديرة البرامج في مؤسسة "مفتاح"، أن هذا اليوم الذي يشهد إطلاق الاستراتيجية الخاصة بمنصة "شوفونا"، يمثل نجاحاً للعمل الذي تم العمل عليه مع الشركاء جميعاً، باتجاه مزيد من التفاعل المجتمعي، في حين أنّ المنصة جسّدت الوحدة الوطنية والمجتمعية في إطار وحدوي وليس فئوياً. أضافت: " المطلوب حالياً أن تكون المنصة قادرة على أن تقود نفسها بنفسها، وأن تحدد أدواتها وخططها التنفيذية، مدعومة باستعداد "مفتاح" وشركائها لتقديم كل مساعدة ممكنة، والعمل ضمن هذه المساحة المفتوحة ليس من خلال وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي فحسب، بل من خلال تجسيد ذلك على الأرض".
أما نجوى ياغي - صندوقة مديرة المشروع في "مفتاح"، فأكدت على أن هذا اللقاء يأتي ضمن جهود المؤسسات الشريكة لمؤسسة "مفتاح" في بناء تصور لتطوير واقع شراكة المرأة الفلسطينية لأهمية الدور النسوي في بناء مؤسسات الدولة والتأثير برسم السياسات العامة والتشريعات الوطنية استجابة لاحتياجات المكونات المجتمعية المختلفة وباتجاه زيادة التمثيل العلي للمرأة والشباب في هياكل النظام السياسي الفلسطيني ما يساهم في مأسسة حق المواطنة للفلسطينيين على أرضية المساواة والشراكة والتعددية واحترام الحريات وتحقيق الكرامة الإنسانية.
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.
