Al Khalili: Culture and art in Palestine are part of our national struggle and the preservation of our identity and narrative.

Ramallah – Minister of Women’s Affairs Mona Al Khalili participated today, Monday, in the opening of the youth art exhibition “Youth Visions for Civic Space and Reform in Palestine,” organized by the Center for Media and Human Rights and Democracy “SHAMS” at the Millennium Hotel in Ramallah. The event was attended by a number of officials, representatives of international institutions and organizations, as well as young people and artists.

In her remarks, Minister Al Khalili stressed that the exhibition is not merely a space for art and creativity, but also brings together **young ideas, visions, and voices**, demonstrating that art can serve as a space for expression, dialogue, and social impact. She commended the initiative of the SHAMS Centre for bringing together culture and art with human rights, democracy, civic space, and public participation.

She noted that protecting civic space is not achieved solely through legal and institutional frameworks**, but also through culture and the arts and by providing safe spaces for young women and men to express their vision for their society and its future. She underscored the importance of partnership with civil society organizations in advancing participation and accountability, promoting a culture of human rights, and strengthening the principles of equality and gender equality, while creating opportunities for women and young people to become active partners in public life and decision-making.

Minister Al Khalili emphasized that “culture and the arts, in the Palestinian context, are part of the national struggle” and serve as tools for preserving identity, memory, and narrative, as well as expressing the determination to uphold life, land, and freedom. She pointed to the targeting and destruction of cultural and artistic institutions and centers, as well as spaces that nurture young people’s creativity, as a result of the ongoing aggression.

She further highlighted the ability of art to transcend the effects of destruction, noting that “digital art provides young people with new tools for expression and for reaching audiences around the world”, enabling them to transform their experiences, questions, and aspirations into messages capable of creating impact and transcending borders. She affirmed that the Palestinian artist’s determination to create is in itself an act of holding on to life.

The Minister also stressed that “young people are a key force for change”, and that youth empowerment cannot be achieved without empowering young women and ensuring equal opportunities for women and men to participate in public life and decision-making. She emphasized that the civic space envisioned must be “open and safe for women, young people, and diverse voices”, without exclusion or discrimination.

She added that the “Ministry of Women’s Affairs extends its hand to young people, universities, cultural and artistic institutions, civil society, and the private sector” to expand spaces where young women and men can express themselves, create, participate, and access positions of influence. She reaffirmed the importance of partnership with civil society organizations in strengthening participation and accountability, promoting a culture of human rights and citizenship, and advancing the principles of equality and gender equality.

The opening ceremony included remarks by Dr. Laila Ghannam, Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate, Counsellor Sharhabeel Al-Zaeem, Minister of Justice, Dr. Mohammad Al-Ahmad, Minister of Transport and Communications and Director of the Executive Office for Institutional Development and Reform, and Anke Schlim, Head of the German Representative Office, in addition to welcoming remarks by Omar Rahal, Director of the SHAMS Centre for Media and Human Rights and Democracy.

The opening ceremony concluded with the “ribbon-cutting and official opening of the exhibition”, followed by an interactive tour introducing visitors to the featured artworks and the messages they convey.