The Minister of Women's Affairs chairs the National Committee to Combat Violence meeting to review the progress made and develop the protection and prevention system.

Ramallah – July 20, 2026 The Minister of Women's Affairs, Ms. Mona Khalili headed the National Committee to Combat Violence Against Women, an official institutional mechanism led and coordinated by the Ministry of Women's Affairs. The Committee includes representatives from government institutions, the security sector, civil society organizations, and women's rights organizations and works to enhance the protection system for abused women. The meeting was widely attended by committee members from government institutions, the security sector, and women's and human rights civil society organizations. During the meeting, mechanisms to strengthen the national protection system and unify institutional procedures to ensure the protection of women from all forms of violence were discussed. The meeting aimed to review the committee's work and the achievements made, addressing priority files and issues, including the National Referral System, the National Observatory for Monitoring Violence Against Women, monitoring high-risk (dangerous) cases, and implementing Resolution 1325.

The minister, Al-Khalili, confirmed the committee discussion of a number of serious issues during the past period and took a series of steps and measures regarding them, particularly concerning the rise in cases of violence and murder, and electronic blackmail, which has become one of the dangerous forms of violence. She emphasized the necessity of continuous evaluation of the protection system and its ability to prevent crimes, and the development of preventive interventions and effective responses in cooperation with the relevant authorities, foremost among them the police, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Public Prosecution.

Al-Khalili emphasized that addressing violence is not limited to dealing with cases after they occur, but requires enhancing prevention and awareness. She pointed to the "Hind and Youssef" platform aimed at children, which uses simplified language, interactive tools, and educational games to address issues of women's rights, citizenship, and protection from violence. Additionally, she mentioned the development of media materials, awareness films and series, and digital platforms thru smartphones. In the context of economic empowerment, Al-Khalili confirmed that the ministry continues to implement initiatives to support women's projects in various governorates of the country, explaining that initiatives were recently launched in Jericho and the Jordan Valley, and that other initiatives will be implemented in other governorates thru financial support for grassroots women's institutions.

Committee members, representatives of governmental and women's institutions, and civil society organizations appreciated the role of all partners in the national referral system and the management of high-risk cases. They emphasized the importance of continuous review of the protection system and referral mechanisms, enhancing coordination and partnership between institutions to ensure a more effective response, as well as intensifying awareness and prevention programs before incidents of violence occur. They also emphasized the necessity of developing national policies to address violence in the digital space, in light of the rise of this type of violence, thru launching awareness campaigns and enhancing specialized interventions.

The participants emphasized the importance of continuing to adhere to international agreements and resolutions concerning women, highlighting national achievements and the repercussions of Israeli aggression on Palestinian women, in addition to, enhancing economic empowerment programs in light of the difficult economic conditions. They also praised the role of the National Observatory for Monitoring Violence Against Women in providing the necessary data and indicators for policy development, and the efforts of partner institutions, emphasizing the importance of enhancing joint media work to turn women's issues into public opinion matters, developing the capacities of teams working in the field of protecting women and children, and strengthening psychological and social support, in addition to, continuing to work on developing national legislation for family protection and combating violence.