NAGHAM KARAJEH

Gaza- The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) held a meeting on June 15 and released its 2021 report on rights violations in Palestine. NuJINHA spoke to women participating in the meeting about the report and women’s rights.

“Domestic violence law should be enacted”

Underlining that human rights are the main source of women's rights, lawyer Hanadi Akila said, “The international conventions are inseparable sources of women's rights, especially since women have to struggle for their rights. Women’s rights, such as their right to inheritance, work and custody must be defended. Domestic violence law should be enacted to protect women from violence in the Gaza Strip.”

Marwa Hamadeh, another woman participating in the meeting, said, “Women’s rights in the Gaza Strip are weak to a large extent. Many of their rights have been stolen from them. Families are not reunited because many women and men are stuck in the West Bank and those who take all the responsibilities of their children are women.”

The situation for women is better now but…

Hanan Abu Ramadan, a history professor, said, “After the recent efforts made to improve the situation of women, their situation has become somewhat better than before. 10 years ago, the number of women participating in the labor force was very low. Now, the situation is better but they are still deprived of some of their rights.”

Stressing the need to pay attention to violence against women and girls, she said that the victims of violence file criminal complaint but they receive no result. Hanan Abu Ramadan’s husband is one of the men being stuck in the West Bank due to the siege imposed by the Israeli occupation. “I am among the affected groups in the Gaza Strip, so family unification has become a very important issue and the right to reunite with their families have been stolen from women and girls.”