Ramallah – On May 13, Palestinians opposed to violence against women and other crimes, recently on the rise in Palestinian society, gathered together in protest in front of the presidential headquarters in Ramallah. Cars honked their horns in a show of solidarity with the victims, demanding the maximum punishment for the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

The protest was the brainchild of MIFTAH and is one of a series of activities that are part of the “Enough is Enough” campaign. MIFTAH staff was joined by employees from AMAN, the NGO forum against violence against women, the political and social Palestinian youth network, REFORM, journalists and pro-women and human rights activists in addition to political activists.

According to Najwa Yaghi who coordinated the protest, the “Enough is Enough Campaign was aimed at conveying an important message about the need to ratify a deterrent penal law to stop these murders. “It is also to reaffirm that the right of humans to life must be at the top of the president’s and government’s priority list,” she maintained.

“I think the fact that passersby responded to us and some even joined the protest was a message to decision-makers that our society needs a set of laws to protect its citizens,” Yaghi said. “We are suffering from a lack of moral deterrence for those who give themselves the authority to commit such crimes.’

In particular, public anger revolved around the most recent murder of a woman by her husband in Qalandia, outside of Ramallah and the murder of another women not long before in the Birzeit Sharia courthouse. The protesters questioned the role of the executive, legislative and judicial authorities, criticizing the absence of social protection for women and all victims .

Dozens of activists stood outside of the presidential headquarters holding up signs that read “Your shortcomings and negligence are a license to kill” and “Your incapacity and silence is killing us.” Other creative banners were directed at traffic. “Honk if you are against murder” and “Honk if you want a deterrent penal law”. The response was surprisingly positive, with motorists and even policemen honking their horns in solidarity.

According to statistics provided by the Palestinian NGO forum against violence against women, 13 women have been killed since the beginning of the year while 28 women were killed throughout 2013. A statement released by the forum said the absence of a deterrent penal law and a law that protects families from violence, coupled with a culture of discrimination and inequality, all contribute to the violation of women’s right to life and to their right to live in dignity.

The statement called for the ratification of a modern penal code which stipulates the protection of the right to life and security without discrimination. It also called for a law to be passed that protects women and families from violence, in addition to the ratification of the personal status law, which contributes to the protection of women from violence.

The statement went on to demand that official parties hand down the harshest possible punishment on criminals. The participants urged President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian cabinet to expedite signing the draft penal law, which has already been referred to them.