Al-Khalili meets with women's and official institutions in Bethlehem and announces an economic initiative to support women's associations and projects.

The Minister of Women's Affairs, Ms. Mona Khalili, in the presence of His Excellency the Governor of Bethlehem, Mr. Muhammad Abu Aliya, during her visit to the Bethlehem Governorate, met representatives of official institutions, associations, and women's centers, members of local and municipal councils, representatives of civil society organizations, the General Union of Palestinian Women, and members of the Youth Advisory Council of the Ministry of Women's Affairs. The meeting was held in the presence of the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Chile, Vera Baboun, the Deputy minister of the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Buthaina Al-Salem, the President of the General Union of Palestinian Women in Bethlehem, Ahlam Al-Wahsh, a member of the General Secretariat of the General Union of Palestinian Women and the President of the Union of Women’s Committees for Social Work, Khawla Al Azraq, the Director General of the Prime Minister's Office at the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Maha Aman Allah, and the accompanying ministry delegation, to discuss the situation of women in the governorate, review the main economic and social challenges they face, and explore ways to enhance their resilience and empowerment

At the beginning of the meeting, the honorable Governor of Bethlehem, Mr. Mohammad Abu Aliya, welcomed the Minister of Women's Affairs and the accompanying delegation, appreciating this visit which reflects the ministry's commitment to direct communication with the governorates and listening to their needs. He praised the role played by women's and official institutions in serving the community and strengthening the resilience of Palestinian women, emphasizing the importance of enhancing partnership and coordination between various entities to support women's issues and empower them economically and socially.

The governor highlighted the importance of women's economic empowerment, especially given the low percentage of women's participation in the Palestinian labor market compared to the available potential and competencies. He emphasized the need to provide more programs and initiatives that contribute to increasing women's economic participation and enhancing their economic independence, appreciating the efforts of the Ministry of Women's Affairs and its initiatives aimed at supporting women and developing their opportunities.

The Minister of Women's Affairs, Ms. Mona Khalili, stated that the ministry continues to work on enhancing the economic, social, and political empowerment of Palestinian women, in addition to, developing the protection system and reviewing legislation and policies to meet the needs of women in various governorates.

During the meeting, Al-Khalili announced the launch of an economic initiative in Bethlehem Governorate, which includes supporting several women's associations and small projects, with the aim of enhancing women's resilience, expanding the economic opportunities available to them, and contributing to the support and sustainability of women's projects.

She also emphasized the importance of building women's capacities and developing their skills in project management, marketing, e-marketing, and using artificial intelligence tools, which enhances the competitiveness of Palestinian products and opens up opportunities for them to reach local, Arab, and international markets. She pointed out that the repercussions of the aggression and its social, economic, and psychological impacts have given rise to new issues that require the development of a protection system and the enactment of Palestinian laws specifically for the protection of women and families, in a way that addresses emerging challenges and enhances the ability of institutions to respond to the needs of women and families.

The Deputy Minister of Women's Affairs, Buthaina Al-Salem, also reviewed the "Hind and Youssef" platform dedicated to children, which aims to provide educational and interactive content that enhances children's awareness of their rights and issues, and contributes to instilling concepts of protection, equality, and positive values in them.

The participants interventions focused on the importance of strengthening the protection system through the development of Palestinian laws and legislation related to the protection of women and families, and providing psychological support and legal awareness for women, especially in light of the repercussions of aggression and emerging social challenges. It also pointed out the impact of settlement expansion on the economic reality of women, and the importance of economic empowerment as one of the tools to enhance women's resilience, noting that poverty is one of the significant causes of violence. They emphasized the necessity of providing job opportunities and specialized training programs in the fields of artificial intelligence and modern technology, and empowering women, especially heads of households and women in marginalized areas, to work from their homes, in addition to, supporting women survivors of cancer. They emphasized that the low percentage of women's participation in the labor market compared to the number of graduates requires the promotion of equal opportunities between women and men.

At the end of the meeting, Al-Khalili affirmed that the ministry continues to work on developing policies and legislation that respond to women's needs, and enhancing women's presence in various government work files and development programs, based on the government's belief in the importance of empowering women and expanding their participation in decision-making positions. She pointed out that the public sector is witnessing significant progress in providing opportunities for women, affirming that Palestinian women have achieved qualitative accomplishments and continue to prove their worth in various fields.

She also highlighted the role of the Youth Advisory Council of the Ministry of Women's Affairs in involving young women and men in shaping policies and programs related to women's issues and enhancing their participation in the decision-making process. She praised the role played by elected women in municipal councils, affirming the ministry's readiness to support them through project implementation and capacity development, in addition to, continuing to strengthen gender units in official institutions to ensure the integration of women's issues into national plans and policies.

Al-Khalili confirmed that the ministry will continue to hold field meetings in various governorates, focusing on marginalized areas, to ensure direct listening to women's needs and the development of programs and initiatives that respond to their priorities, emphasizing that achieving social change requires cumulative work and genuine partnership between different institutions and sectors.