EU Celebrates International Women’s Day in Palestine – Press Release

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Arabic: العربية

Jerusalem, 08/03/2021 – 18:14, UNIQUE ID: 210308_19

On the International Women’s Day, the Office of the European Union Representative joins Palestinian women and men to acknowledge women’s vital economic, social, and political contributions and celebrate their remarkable achievements. Throughout the week, the EU and its implementing partners will organize a number of online events and campaigns presenting stories of inspiring Palestinian women and girls that shed light on the challenges they continue to face.

Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly challenging for women around the world, including in Palestine. Palestinian doctors, nurses, and teachers – the majority of whom are women – have found themselves at the frontline of combating the pandemic.

Gender equality and women’s rights are essential for any society to prosper and flourish. In this regard the EU welcomed the commitments undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, as shown by the accession to several international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the adoption of a Cross-Sectoral National Gender Strategy for the period 2017-2022.

“The EU calls on the Palestinian Authority to follow up on these commitments with concrete action, starting with the publication of CEDAW in the Official Gazette, and the adoption of a Family Protection Bill in full alignment with international standards and following effective consultation with civil society organizations. Different indicators point to an increase in gender-based violence in Palestine during the COVID-19 pandemic, making the provision of legal remedies to protect victims and survivors all the more urgent”, said the EU Representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff.

‘’The EU also welcomes recent amendments to the Electoral Law aimed at raising women’s representation in the future Palestinian Legislative Council, and calls on the Palestinian Authority to promote an enabling environment in which as many women as possible can actively and meaningfully participate in the upcoming elections. The EU reiterates its support to Palestinian reconciliation, also in view of reunifying legal systems in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and ensuring the equal protection and rights of all women and girls in the entire occupied Palestinian territory,’’ he added.

For further details, please contact:               

The Office of the European Union Representative 

Shadi Othman (02 5415 867, 0599 673 958); Inas Abu Shirbi (02 541 5 859, 0599 673 957)

http://eeas.europa.eu/palestine