Al Khalili meets with women's and official institutions in Jenin and announces an economic initiative to support women.

The Minister of Women's Affairs, Ms. Mona Al-Khalili, during her tour in Jenin Governorate, met with representatives of official institutions, associations, and women's centers, members of municipal councils, the Chamber of Commerce, and members of the General Union of Palestinian Women. The meeting was attended by the esteemed Governor of Jenin, Mr. Kamal Abu Al-Rub, and the head of the General Union of Palestinian Women in Jenin, Ms. Wafa Zakarneh, to discuss the situation of women in the governorate in light of the repercussions of the aggression and the current political, economic, and social conditions, and to understand their actual needs, especially in light of the forced displacement and evacuation from Jenin Refugee camp.

At the beginning of the meeting, His Excellency the Governor of Jenin, Mr. Kamal Abu Rub, praised the role of the Ministry of Women's Affairs and its commitment to regular communication with women's and grassroots organizations in various governorates. He emphasized the importance of enhancing partnership and coordination between government institutions and various sectors, and commended the role played by Palestinian women in Jenin Governorate, and their contribution to strengthening the resilience of their families and communities in facing challenges.

Al-Khalili reviewed and displayed the efforts of the Ministry of Women's Affairs in various fields of its work, affirming that the economic empowerment of women is a top priority for the ministry, given its fundamental role in enhancing women's independence and autonomy, elevating their status, and socially empowering them. This is in addition to, working on enhancing political and social empowerment, reviewing legislations and laws, and developing the protection system to meet the needs of women and the challenges they are exposed to.

The attendees interventions focused on the protection system, political empowerment, challenges related to quotas, economic project challenges, the needs of people with disabilities, new social phenomena related to forced displacement, and the importance of supporting small economic projects and women's initiatives to strengthen the resilience of women and families. Additionally, there is a need to develop specialized training in marketing, electronic marketing, and the use of artificial intelligence tools, which contribute to the development of projects, enhance the reach of their products to markets, and ensure their sustainability. The interventions also addressed the impact of the ongoing settlement expansion and settler attacks and assaults on the lives of women, families, and the community, and the necessity of intensifying efforts and strengthening community solidarity in facing these challenges.

Al-Khalili confirmed, at the conclusion of the meeting, that the government and the Ministry of Women's Affairs give special attention to women's economic empowerment, noting that the ministry launched its economic initiative from the northern governorates, based on its understanding of the reality these governorates live in and the harsh status quo they endure including the effects of enforced displacement and evacuation from the Refugee Camps, and working to enhance the resilience of women and families. She also pointed to the national and international efforts made by the State of Palestine to protect Palestinian women, which culminated in the adoption of a special UN resolution for the protection of Palestinian women under occupation, in addition to, the inclusion of the Israeli occupation in the UN Secretary-General's report on the list of parties that use sexual violence as a tool of war. She emphasized the importance of continuing training and capacity building in various fields related to project development, including marketing,  electronic marketing, and artificial intelligence, and the necessity of aligning products with the required specifications and standards, which enhances their chances of reaching markets and participating in Arab and international exhibitions. The ministry also emphasized its interest in the issues of people with disabilities and its efforts to develop strategies and plans that enhance their integration and empowerment at various levels.