Ramallah – MIFTAH recently held a training workshop entitled, “A reading of the National Plan for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 and the Concept of Masculinity” as part of MIFTAH’s strategic objective to promote the principles of good governance in Palestine and to expand the scope of a unifying national dialogue. This is aimed at pushing for more advocacy and lobbying to impact public policies which guarantee social justice, equality and the protection of female citizens’ rights, based on the principles of human rights and relevant UN resolutions, including Resolution 1325.

“The workshop talked about the methodology of integrating men and the concept of masculinity and their connection to developing the national plan for implementing UNSCR 1325,” said participant Rasha Saleh Eddin. “The focus was on the dimensions of women’s participation in decision-making; the training highlighted a number of points not included in the National Plan for Implementation of UNSCR 1325 (2017-2019), which calls for a broad and national discussion on the priorities for the 2020-2022 NAP, especially regarding the security sector in Palestine and how this methodology must promote this sector’s role in protecting Palestinian women and girls. The workshop also opened up the discussion on interactive issues between the civil and security sectors in integrating gender concepts and broaching modern methodologies within the concept of masculinity. “

Another participant, women’s activist Ratiba Natsheh spoke about her understanding of masculinity. “The concept of masculinity is about breaking the traditional stereotypes “man or male” in Palestinian society, which are based on the traditional division of roles between men and women. It is about shifting from the box of ‘man and woman’ to one of “human” given that men and women are equal human beings in rights, duties and capabilities. Therefore, adopting this concept at the Palestinian level first requires a radical change in approach, terminology and in school curricula and then in the media, in popular rhetoric and in drafting protective laws for women that regard all citizens equally, whether male or female.”

In response to a question about the best methodology for adopting UNSCR1325, Natsheh said, “In terms of the male structures in Palestinian society, Resolution 1325 will play a similar role to that of the CEDAW agreement in tearing down the social constructs that set the ground for discrimination against women and do not consider them an added participant or player in public life whereby they become key participants, not on the premise that they are more sensitive to women’s issues, but because they are a fundamental component of the Palestinian people. This means they have a right to be a key partner in all decisions, solutions and protection provided to all members of society.”

Meanwhile, Nihad Wahdan, head of the Ministry of Interior’s Gender Unit and ministry representative to the Higher National Committee for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325, said that the mission of her ministry is to provide internal protection for families. This includes dealing with battered women by offering them psychological counseling in coordination with the public prosecution, the police, the Ministry of Social Development and the Family Protection Unit, in addition to documenting and following-up on Israeli violations against Palestinian women.

MIFTAH Project Manager, Najwa Yaghi-Sandouka said the training workshop was part of its OXFAM-funded “Conflict and Fragility” project for promoting women’s participation in security and peace building. The project, she explained, is aimed at developing a joint concept for preparing a national plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 for 2020-2022 ,which gives consideration to the dominant patriarchal structure of Palestinian society, the political context of the Israeli colonialist occupation and its impact on Palestinian women’s participation in public space, in addition to considering protection and protection as basic pivotal points of UNSCR 1325.