ActionAid Palestine to Celebrate Resilience of Palestinian Women on International Women Day

On 8 March, ActionAid Palestine (AAP) joins the international community in celebrating International Women’s Day 2020(IWD). This year’s global theme is “Each for Equal”. An equal world is an enabled world. This theme is drawn from the idea of collective individualism. Collectively, we can make change happen. Collectively, we can each help to create a gender equal world. On this occasion, AAP reaffirms its commitment to support the resilience of Palestinian women and their collective action and advocate for their rights. We also call upon all stakeholders to end all forms of violence against them including the violence stemming from prolonged occupation of the Palestinian Occupied Territories (oPt).

Since 2007 when AAP has begun working in Palestine , the interventions of its  programmes and projects seek to create space where women grow confidential in claiming their rights and taking on decision-making roles within communities and where they find strength in the solidarity built between each other. Our work also aims to build their active agency and empower them and mobilize their organizations to challenge patriarchy and unjust powers at local, national and regional levels in their endeavour to attain social, economic and political rights including the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people.

Activities of our programmes and projects are planned and implemented to improve women’s status in marginalized areas of governorates of Hebron, Bethlehem, and Gaza Strip through economic empowerment and collective actions. We aim to tackle the causes of women’s marginalization and gender inequalities in society.  At the same time, we promote collective action of women by focusing on assisting women organizing themselves and establishing networks and associations that represent their interests. We are also raising women`s awareness about their rights, developing their skills and building their capacity to access the job market and increase women’s incomes through self-employment in sectors such as the social and the development business. In Gaza Strip , AAP  targets  vulnerable women and young people in the most affected communities to shift power  to them and their organizations  to increase protection and resilience in line with International Humanitarian Law(IHL).

In addition to activities of its projects and programmes, AAP leads advocacy actions and campaigns advocating for rights of Palestinian women for decent work and calling for ending Gender Based Violence (GBV). AAP has highlighted the political violence that the Palestinian women are exposed due to the Israeli occupation through 16- days of activism for combating GBV. AAP ‘s campaigning work includes challenging discriminatory attitudes and practices relating to young women’s economic empowerment. This work is guided by the Palestinian context where the rate of the participation of Palestinian women in labor force is low reaching 18% compared to the percentage of men's participation which reached 70%  despite the fact that women make half of the Palestinian society

Background Information

ActionAid

ActionAid is ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. It is a leading international charity working in over 45 countries. We work with the poorest women and children in the world, changing their lives for good. Our local staff provide immediate, hands-on support to women and children living on the margins of survival. Together we demand action at local, national and international level. We don’t walk away until we’ve achieved lasting change.

ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of that federation which started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.

For more information, please contact

Riham Jafari

Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication in Gaza Strip and West Bank

Mobile:

+972 (0) 595242890

Office:

+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137

Email: Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org