TEHRÎR BENÎ SEXIR

Ramallah- The Covid-19 pandemic has affected women all around the world. The lockdowns imposed in countries all around the world have made domestic violence even more invisible. Social activist Temara Hedad drew attention to domestic violence has been increasing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Before, women could work in projects to earn a small income. But they have been deprived of working since the beginning of the curfews declared due to the pandemic,” said Temara Hedad emphasizing that women, who have to stay at home, have been more subjected to domestic violence. We talked to Temara Hedad about the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on women living in Ramallah, city of Palestine.

·         As a social activist, how do you evaluate women's participation in life during the Covid-19 pandemic?

During the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, women took part in health committees. Women felt responsible for their societies. Women have come into prominence during this deadly pandemic. We have seen that women feeling responsible for their society, particularly women working in the field of health, have tried to fulfill their responsibilities at a higher level. However, although women have worked to overcome this period affecting all people, it is obvious that there are no women in decision-making mechanisms.

·         How have women been affected by the pandemic? What are its economic effects?

The pandemic has seriously affected the economy in the country, particularly the domestic economy. The pandemic has caused an unstable in daily life and affected families altogether. Women producing handicrafts at their homes and women working from their homes haven’t been able to work from their homes due to the pandemic. Maybe, this sounds like a simple problem but thousands of women earn a living for their families by working from their homes. The pandemic has affected not only women’s working lives but also women’s lives at homes.

·         Have women been protected or supported during the pandemic?

Women working outside of their homes have been supported but women working from their houses haven’t been supported because they have no social security benefits.

We have gone through a period when we haven’t received any data about domestic violence and how women have been affected by it. There are few laws protecting women and women have been left unprotected. According to a 2020 report prepared by UN Women, the COVID-19 pandemic seriously affected women. Domestic violence and violence against women have been increasing due to the pandemic.

Who is social activist Temara Hedad?

40-year-old Temara Hedad is a social activist and author. She is a council member of El - Bîre Municipality. She studied economics and political science in El Xelil, Jordan. She also conducted research on Palestine at the University of Malaysia. She has worked on refugees in Palestine. She has worked with many NGOs, committees, and educational institutions and she has been known for her active personality.