Al-Khalili: Fair public services are a pillar for enhancing women's resilience and protecting their rights.

 Al-Khalili: Fair public services are a pillar for enhancing women's resilience and protecting their rights.

 The Ministry of Women’s Affairs released a report on the occasion of the United Nations Public Service Day, observed on June 23rd, affirming that ensuring women and girls’ access to equitable and inclusive public services without discrimination is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for promoting social justice and sustainable development, especially given the challenges posed by the Israeli occupation to the Palestinian service system.

 Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mona Al-Khalili, emphasized that investing in equitable and inclusive public services is an investment in the resilience and dignity of Palestinian women, as women’s empowerment begins with guaranteeing their access to health, education, protection, and economic empowerment services without discrimination. In light of Israel's ongoing targeting of infrastructure and service institutions, the international community's responsibility to protect the right of Palestinians, especially women and girls, to access basic services is amplified.

The report noted that the Ministry of Women's Affairs, as the national authority on gender issues, continued its efforts to enhance the integration of women's and girls' needs into government policies and programs. This was achieved through activating gender units in government institutions and launching the National Observatory for Monitoring Violence Against Women, contributing to the development of more equitable and responsive government services and strengthening the national protection system and women's economic empowerment, in line with relevant national strategies.

The report highlighted the catastrophic effects of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which led to widespread destruction of infrastructure and basic services, exacerbating the suffering of women and girls, particularly in light of displacement and loss of income sources. It noted that there are more than 22,000 widows in the Gaza Strip, along with approximately 55,000 pregnant women facing extreme difficulties in accessing safe healthcare. The report also warned of the repercussions of targeting service institutions and UNRWA in Jerusalem, and the continuation of Israeli restrictions that limit women's access to basic services. In various Palestinian regions, the call is renewed to protect civilian infrastructure and ensure the sustainability of public services as one of the pillars of national resilience.