Minister of Women’s Affairs, Ms. Mona Al-Khalili, held a meeting with Mr. Ziad Sheikh, Acting Special Representative of UN Women in Palestine, to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation within the strategic partnership and to support the Ministry’s prio

Minister of Women’s Affairs, Ms. Mona Al-Khalili, held a meeting with Mr. Ziad Sheikh, Acting Special Representative of UN Women in Palestine, to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation within the strategic partnership and to support the Ministry’s priorities and programs aimed at promoting women’s rights and empowering them.

 At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Al-Khalili expressed her appreciation for the support provided by UN Women to the Ministry of Women's Affairs and women's civil society organizations, emphasizing the importance of the strategic partnership and its role in supporting efforts to empower women and protect their rights.

 Al-Khalili reviewed the current political situation in light of the ongoing repercussions of the continued aggression and the economic blockade imposed on the State of Palestine, and the resulting direct impact on the living and social conditions of Palestinian families, particularly women. She noted the decline in their protection and stability, as well as the increasing economic and social burdens they face. She also pointed out that the escalating settler attacks on Palestinian villages further, exacerbate the suffering of Palestinian families and have a direct impact on women and children.

 Al-Khalili stressed that the continuation of this situation without a serious political horizon based on ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital will remain the primary obstacle to any real progress in the lives of Palestinian women and in efforts to empower them at all levels.

 Al-Khalili reviewed the Ministry's top priorities for the current phase, including developing national policies and legislation, strengthening the national protection system for women under the umbrella of the Higher National Committee to Combat Violence, including launching the National Observatory for Monitoring Violence Against Women, the National Referral System for Victims of Violence, and monitoring the State of Palestine's commitments related to international conventions on women's rights through the preparation of progress reports. She also highlighted efforts to enhance the role of gender units through coordination with the heads of government institutions.

 Furthermore, she reviewed the results of international efforts undertaken by the Ministry over the past two years in partnership with the Permanent Missions of the State of Palestine in Geneva and New York and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. These efforts contributed to tangible progress within the UN system, including the inclusion of Israel in the UN Secretary-General's report among those who use sexual violence as a weapon of war, and the adoption of the UN Economic and Social Council resolution on the situation of Palestinian women under occupation, thus, strengthening the presence of Palestinian women's issues on the international agenda.

 Al-Khalili highlighted the Ministry's efforts in the areas of women's economic and political empowerment, including the economic initiatives implemented by the Ministry in various governorates, and the importance of enhancing women's participation in decision-making positions. She also mentioned the upcoming meeting with the Local Aid Coordination Group (LACS), emphasizing the importance of directing international aid and programs to ensure they address the needs of women and girls and integrate their priorities into humanitarian and development interventions.

 For his part, Sheikh thanked the Minister of Women's Affairs for the comprehensive briefing she provided on the Ministry's priorities and programs, commending the Ministry's role under the exceptional circumstances faced by Palestinian women, and its efforts in the areas of protection, empowerment, and advocacy at the national and international levels.

 The UN Women representative affirmed the organization's commitment to continuing its support for the Ministry of Women's Affairs within the framework of the existing strategic partnership between the two parties. He commended the State of Palestine's adherence to international conventions related to women's rights and its resumption of work on the associated periodic reports. He also praised the partnership between the Ministry and women's organizations and women institutions, and emphasized the importance of economic initiatives targeting women, particularly within the difficult conditions the Palestinian territories are witnessing, including the Gaza Strip. He stressed the continuation of joint cooperation to improve the lives of Palestinian women and girls.

 Both sides agreed to continue coordination and joint work, and to hold technical meetings in the coming period to explore additional areas of cooperation and develop new programs within the framework of the existing memorandum of understanding and partnership between them.