#Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC

[coochiequeens]

Over the last two years, 58 Palestinian women were murdered in domestic violence incidents. Palestinian women’s rights organizations reprimanded the Palestinian Authority for not drafting laws that could have prevented them, Palestinian Media Watch reported on Thursday.

The Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC,) an NGO, found that 21 Palestinian women were murdered in 2019 and 37 in 2020, totally at an increase of 176%, PA Daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadid reported on July 3.

Honor Killings and domestic violence in the Arab society have grown into a common and consistent issue. Though the PA has been more attentive to these cases, no legal or legislative actions have been taking to prevent the abuse.

“The laws play a central role in protecting the social sectors, the individual, his possessions, and his beliefs, and particularly the women. The laws also increase the consciousness in society regarding rights, and also constitute a deterrent and bring about security and stability. Therefore, ratifying the law to defend the family against violence will limit the violence against women and will thus protect them from the danger of murder,” said Sana’a Shbeita, Secretary of the Women’s Activity Committees Association in Nablus.

“In the absence of the law to defend the family against violence, the men of the family will continue to do as they please with the women.” Tahrir Al-A’araj, Director-General of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy added.

Not only are there no laws protecting women from violence, but in 2019, the imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Head of the Supreme Muslim Council Sheikh Ikrima Sabri issued a fatwa (religious ruling) prohibiting Palestinian Muslim women from submitting complaints to Israeli authorities over their husbands' behavior.

The Mufti of the Palestinian Authority Sheikh Muhammad Hussein supported the prohibition, saying: "It is better to leave the matter to the good people and reliable figures [in our society] in order to deal with the issue."

Additionally, In December 2018, in the midst of a PA campaign to prevent violence against women, the PA’s Supreme Shari'ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas' advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash told TV viewers that men are permitted to beat women, that doing it was for her own good.

Bader Al-A’araj, a social sciences lecturer at the Bir Zeit University, explained that the tolerance for domestic violence exists because the abuser is someone who is close to the woman “her relative, husband or lover”.

ICHR Legislation Monitoring Department Director Khadija Zahran added that the concept of “marital rape” is not even recognized in Palestinian culture because women’s bodies are “a right permitted to the man”.

#Palestine #domestic violence #Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC

[khalilhumam]

On the Path to End Violence Against Women: Supporting civil society organisations to combat Gender-Based Violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/on-the-path-to-end-violence-against-women-supporting-civil-society-organisations-to-combat-gender-based-violence-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/

On the Path to End Violence Against Women: Supporting civil society organisations to combat Gender-Based Violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Ghalia, 49 years old, lives in Gaza and has been involved in Oxfam’s interventions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Photo credit: Kieran Doherty: Oxfam

Violence against women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) does not only stem from deeply-rooted patriarchal norms, but also from the experience of the Israeli occupation. Existing literature shows a direct link between the increase in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and exposure to occupation-related violence. The more people are exposed to violence from the occupation or perpetuated by settlers, the more likely they will take it home with them. The correlation between political violence and patriarchal structures means levels of violence in Gaza are higher than in the West Bank. Three consecutive wars and an ongoing Israeli blockade have taken away people’s freedom of movement and ability to trade, leading to a deterioration of the economic situation, and a lack of economic and human security. Those have in turn increased Palestinians’ levels of stress particularly at home, making women more vulnerable to domestic abuse. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue of violence against women worldwide, as it did in OPT. Many civil society and women’s rights organisations have reported an increase in the number of phone calls and consultations sought by SGBV survivors during lockdowns. For example, the Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC), witnessed throughout the lockdown period an increase in the number of women who reported threats to their lives, particularly noticeable one month into the state of emergency. A recent study conducted by the Oxfam-led Naseej project confirmed for instance that in East Jerusalem, 99% of respondents agreed that violence against women and girls (VAWG) increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as 84% of respondents from Jericho and the Jordan Valley, and 77% from Hebron. Such figures indicate that the levels of violence in these areas have been much higher in the year 2020. With the decreased capacity of service providers throughout the pandemic due to the restrictions of movement and lockdowns, the impact of VAWG will be harsher.

Typology of SGBV in Palestine

Data from the 2019 Violence Survey of Palestinian Society conducted by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), indicates that 29% of currently/ever-married women (aged 18-64) reported that they had experienced SGBV at least once in their lifetime. The survey also found that 9% of women currently married or ever married (18-64) experienced sexual violence from their husbands. However, all CSOs interviewed for the Naseej study (16 organisations) agreed that the prevalence of violence in Palestinian society is much higher than what was published in the survey. Psychological violence is the most common type of abuse detected by the PCBS, affecting 57% of the women who reported some form of violence in the preceding year. The data from PCBS on the prevalence of psychological violence is backed up by data from the Naseej research, as 78% of female respondents agreed that verbal abuse is the most common type of violence. Much of the violence committed against women is justified by social norms, impunity for the perpetrator, and the expectation of tolerance from the survivor not only by family members but also wider society. Survivors of violence are expected to tolerate and endure the abuse for the sake of their family and children.  

“The law is not fair to women, even when going to court to get custody, divorce, or inheritance, they tell you that the law is with women…. but when I complain about my brother or ask for my rights, why am I asked to leave? ….. [they say] Just bear with it for your husband and children, and for your parents.”(Female respondent from Gaza)

Harmful social norms like the culture of “honour” including what is known as “Eib” (shame) engulfs women and girl’s behaviours and bears the expectation that women should remain silent if they experience any form of violence. If they refuse to do so, the violence that is committed against them is justified. As one respondent said: “to summarize it we live in a culture of what is frowned upon by society, “Eib”- shame. Which is a set of rules and behavioural limitations…For example, it is frowned upon for a female to go out at night or walk with her brother.” Perpetrators of violence are usually known to survivors and are in their circle or community: the top three perpetrators of violence according to the baseline survey are the husband (40%), father (24%) and relative (17%).

Women’s Rights Organizations leading the efforts to end SGBV

Women’s Rights Organisations in Palestine, including many of Oxfam local partners, are active in the battle to tackle violence against women. Their collective effort for example supported the development of a national referral system which keeps on improving. WROs are also engaged in different awareness-raising activities. Since 2004, they have in fact been strongly advocating for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to pass a Family Protection Bill that is crucial in the fight to end VAW in OPT. They provide services to SGBV survivors and refer them to get the specialized support they need. WROs continue to work with different segments of society in order to change harmful social norms that perpetuate and justify violence against women, raising awareness on the negative impact of VAW and on concepts of gender equality. Thanks to the Naseej project implemented by Oxfam, local civil society organisations and women’s rights organizations, we will be able to channel financial support to these actors to improve SGBV services and referral systems, to support their work on harmful social norms and their advocacy efforts to improve legislation to eliminate violence against women. At the same time, we realize that because violence against women is a global issue, having the space to meet, discuss and reflect is incredibly significant to women’s rights organisations fighting to eradicate SGBV in the region. By providing such spaces for these organisations to exchange, network and learn from each other’s experiences, we hope to contribute with concrete steps to the eradication of VAW in the region.

Note on methodology: This piece is based on data collected between September 9th and October 1st 2020 by conducting a survey with 623 respondents, including 208 males and 415 females. The respondents were randomly selected from 8 governorates in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, respondents were randomly selected in Qalqilia, Salfit, Jericho, East Jerusalem, and Hebron. Data collection was conducted with respondents from Khan Younis and Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, 5 focus groups with members of vulnerable communities were conducted, in addition to 17 in-depth interviews with psychosocial and legal experts from women’s rights service providers, and 17 interviews with experts from CSOs, governmental institutions and international organizations, focusing on the types of services they provide and in which areas.

Author

Razan Wazwaz

Razan Wazwaz is the Gender Project Manager of the Naseej project at Oxfam in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.

[antisemitism-eu]

Europe must stop funding demonization of Israel

Via YNet (Ben-Dror Yemini):

This image featured on the website of the influencial State-funded Belgian-Palestinian Association (Brussels-Wallonia), founded 42 year ago... It was created by Oxfam Belgium and only withdrawn by Oxfam International following a worldwide campaign led by the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

In the past, Europe was involved in the demonization of Jews. Today, Europe is funding the demonization of the Jewish state. A normal country can’t allow donations that fund the campaign to destroy that same country, and it’s time for Israel stop this absurdity too. 

About a year ago, the Ramallah-based Popular Art Center staged a musical performance for “the Palestinian martyrs,” titled “No to laying down guns.” There is nothing new here. This is the “education to peace” that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared in his meeting with US President Donald Trump. Abbas declared, and the European Union is paying in funding for the center. The more interesting thing is that the grant was given as part of a special project for “increasing Palestinian public awareness of EU core values.”  Particularly large funding, of €2.5 million, was given to the Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling (WCLAC). One of the senior employees of the WCLAC is Manal Tamimi. Tamimi propagates anti-Semitic cartoons, often defines Israel as a Nazi state, and her tweets include content such as “Vampire Zionist celebrating by drinking Palestinian bloods” and “I do hate Israel, I do hate Zionism, I wish a third intifada coming soon and people raise up and kills all these Zionist settlers everywhere.” 

Furthermore, dozens of Palestinians NGOs which support the BDS movement have the support of European countries, the European Union and other foundations. Do European taxpayers know that their money is funding anti-Semitic incitement and encouragement of terrorism? Probably not. But the EU knows. A parliamentary question on the issue was submitted at the European Parliament, and the NGO Monitor organization sent a letter to the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, specifying the activities the EU funds were used for. The Delegation of the European Union to Israel said in response that the EU was against incitement and anti-Semitism, and that funding was only provided for the goals defined in the projects. A double standard in all its glory Admittedly, there are already signs of change. On May 17, the European Parliament decided to “ensure that no EU funding can be directly or indirectly diverted to terrorist organizations or activities that incite these acts.” More importantly, about two weeks ago the same parliament adopted the working definition of anti-Semitism which clarifies, once and for all, that demonization, drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis and denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination are anti-Semitism. All the bodies supporting the BDS movement fall into this definition. There have been interesting developments in other countries in Europe. Only last week, the Swiss Council of States voted in favor of a resolution to prevent funding to NGOs involved in anti-Israel incitement, racism and anti-Semitism, after a similar resolution was adopted by the Swiss Parliament in March. The Swiss Council of States’ resolution explicitly mentioned the BDS campaign. Norway and Denmark are holding back budgets too, following the hard work of the NGO Monitor organization. Germany is one of the only countries in Europe which keeps funding the demonization without a hint of self-criticism. (...)

Israel cannot stop the EU or Germany from funding organizations that support terror or the BDS movement and operate outside Israel. Israel can act, however, when it comes to bodies operating inside Israel. A normal country can’t allow donations that fund, whether directly or indirectly, the campaign to destroy that same country. Europe is not an enemy. On the contrary, trade relations are thriving and our cooperation with the EU is growing in many fields. It seems, however, that when Europe condemns anti-Semitism on the windshield, it funds bodies that create the demonization on the rear window. In the past, Europe was involved in the demonization of the Jews. Today, Europe is funding the demonization of the Jewish state. Needless to say, this article wouldn’t have been written had Europe been funding bodies—both on the Israeli side and on the Palestinian side—that advance peace and reconciliation. But it’s the other way around: Europe is funding demonization. 

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The New Antisemite: http://ift.tt/2sWiCVG

#antisemitism in europe