Palestinian women – CSW 50th session – Press release (excerpts)

Fiftieth Session

10^th Meeting (AM)

COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE

WITH FOCUS ON ECONOMIC ISSUED

Speakers Stress Need for Removal of Obstacles

To Women’s Participation in Labour Market, Equal Pay for Equal Work

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Background

When the Commission on the Status of Women met this morning it was expected to conclude its general debate on the priority themes of its fiftieth session.

(For background on the current session, see Press Release WOM/1538 issued on 24 February.)

Statements

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NADYA RASHEED, Observer for Palestine, noted that in 2003 the Ministry of Women’s Affairs had been created to ensure the mainstreaming of women’s rights in all Palestinian Authority institutions.  Since then, it had worked to address all types of violence against women as a crosscutting issue in all of its programmes.  As a result, Palestinian women had been able to heighten their involvement in the political arena.  The Ministry had the potential to improve the situation of Palestinian women, but only if it received the necessary resources.  However, all the resources and support could not overcome the permanent state of insecurity, tension and fear Palestinian women had lived in during Israel’s 38-year occupation.  Their suffering had exponentially multiplied due to the intensification of Israel’s illegal polices and practices.  Indeed, Palestinian women had borne the brunt of the suffering, compounding the pressures and constraints to which Palestinian women were subject in the traditional Palestinian patriarchal society.  Palestinian women fell victim to multiple forms of discrimination and violence and been forced to bear the additional burden of worsening political, social and human rights conditions.  Palestinian women’s lives were not only exposed to difficult conditions in their families, but also in their day-to-day activities.  One particularly horrifying effect of those restrictions was pregnant women being forced to give birth at military checkpoints.  There could be no justification, including that of security, for such inhumane and cruel acts.

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Statements in Right of Reply

Ms. SIMOVICH ( Israel) relayed to the Commission several examples of suicide attacks against Israelis that were carried out by young Palestinian women.  She said the desire of Palestinian women for a peaceful life for themselves and their children was one that was shared by, and the right of, Israeli women as well.  Since September 2000, at least eight Palestinian women had carried out suicide attacks against Israel, and more than 50 who were believed to have intended to carry out attacks had been arrested by Israeli forces, thus preventing the murder of many Israeli civilians.  The Israeli Defense Forces were well aware of the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian civilian population.  A specific emphasis had been given to freedom of movement for those requiring medical care.  However, there were many cases of Palestinians abusing the neutrality of ambulances to carry out attacks.  There had also been many attacks carried out against checkpoints, including by Palestinian women.  The allegations by the Palestinian representative of sexual abuse by Israeli military personnel against Palestinian women were completely baseless.

Ms. RASHEED, observer for Palestine, said it was necessary to remind Israel that it was an occupying Power, and that was the context in which everything that happened should be viewed.  Occupation had negated the rights and existence of the Palestinian people.  Any attempt to distort that reality must be rejected.  The Palestinians continued to condemn suicide attacks and the loss of life on both sides.  The real problem was that Israel had not done the same.  She had yet to hear the Israeli side condemn the killing of Palestinian civilians.  The facts on the ground were very telling about the death and destruction imposed on Palestinians.  Mothers and infants should not be killed in their homes, die at checkpoints, or be made homeless while their homes and shelters were destroyed.  As for the Israeli claim about taking humanitarian measures towards Palestinians, she stressed there was nothing humanitarian about the military occupation of a civilian population.  It was high time for Israel to end the occupation and allow the Palestinian people to live in peace and security.

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For information media • not an official record