Ref: 53/2008

Date: 26 November 2008

In Coordination with Women’s Organizations and in the Context of the 16 Days Campaign, PCHR Women’s Rights Unit Organizes a Series of Awareness Lectures

On 25 November 2008, PCHR Women’s Rights Unit, in coordination with several women’s organizations, launched a series of lectures throughout the Gaza Strip. The lectures are organized in the context of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign from 25 November to 10 December. They aim to increase awareness of women about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993), and legal mechanism of protecting female victims of violence. They are part of PCHR’s continuous efforts to stop violence against women and provide legal protection mechanisms for them.

The first lecture was held on Tuesday, 25 November 2008, in al-Fukhari area in Khan Yunis, in cooperation with al-Fukhari Association for Development. In the lectures, which was attended by 27 women,  unit researched Majeda Shihada talked about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 1999 as part of the efforts to curb this international phenomenon. She pointed out that the international community did not heed the danger of this phenomenon till December 1993 when the UN General Assembly issued the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. In the past, violence against women was seen as individual cases rather than a human rights problem that needs to be addressed and solved.

Shihada also gave a definition of violence against women as stated in the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. In addition, she talked about the 3 spheres in which violence against women is practiced: the family; society; and State. In addition, she talked about the forms of violence against women in the Palestinian society and relevant laws pertaining to the issue.

Women’s Rights Unit is scheduled to continue the lecture series throughout the week. One lecture will be held on 26 November in Women’s Activities Center in Rafah. A third lecture will be held on 27 November in Zkhaer Association in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, and a fourth one will be held on 30 November in Palestinian Women Development Association in al-Boreij refugee camp. The unit will also organize 3 similar lectures in December.