Ramallah – Upon invitation from the Tunisian Ministry of Women, Family and Childhood and support from OXFAM, MIFTAH’s Hebron coordinator Maysoun Qawasmi recently participated in the Tunisian Forum for Gender Equality, held on April 24-26 in Tunis, Tunisia. Coordinator for the Iraqi Women’s Network, Amal Kabashi also participated in the forum, which was attended by Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and over 400 people from around the world.

The focal points of the forum, which is a continuation of the2018 Stockholm Forum, were the following: Beijing+25, gender equality in the transformation of local governance, Women, Peace and Security, innovation, technology and economic empowerment.

Qawasmi presented on the priority of working with international institutions and diplomatic missions in Palestine to advocate for the Palestinian cause and boost solidarity with Palestinian women under the ongoing Israeli occupation and suffering from its violations; advocating for Palestinian women’s participation in decision-making; the women movement’s adoption of UNSCR 1325; Palestine’s adoption of measures, decisions, strategic policies and laws that intersect with Resolution 1325 and official efforts to empower and protect women in accessing decision-making positions.

In her presentation, Qawasmi reaffirmed the most important action strategies pertaining to women, peace and security, first and foremost ending the occupation and holding it accountable for the crimes it commits against the Palestinian people. She also stressed on the importance and action of national coalitions, the continued support for women’s contributions, for women to raise their voices in international arenas; continued work on internal issues and the role of women in national reconciliation efforts including the formation of the Wifaq Committee.

Over the course of three days, the participants identified priorities in order to guarantee the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action through a number of recommendations, which will be announced in the name of the Forum and presented at a follow up summit for the implementation of sustainable development goals in September, 2019. They also focused on the promotion of gender equality in peace and security building, in combatting terror and extremism and in promoting development through achieving parity in social, political and economic fields.

MIFTAH’s participation in this forum is a continuation of efforts by the organization to shine a light on the plight of Palestinian women and to reiterate the increasing gaps in the international protection system regarding Palestinian women, which exasperates the level of violence against them. MIFTAH’s participation also aimed at bolstering international solidarity with the Palestinian cause in order to restore the presence of Palestinian women at the top of the international list of priorities, especially regarding the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, which MIFTAH implements as part of its Conflict and Fragility project .