Author Archives: Yusra Odeh

Carine Metz, Program Coordinator at the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, stated during the workshop that while the Israeli occupying power’s measures have further restricted access to various locations, additional challenges related to mobility and accessibility persist. These include the absence of a public transportation system in Palestine, the incompatibility of privately owned public transport vehicles with the needs of persons with disabilities, and the lack of infrastructure adaptations to accommodate them. These barriers significantly limit the ability of women and persons with disabilities to access education, vocational training, and the labor market.

Journalist and activist Lubna Al-Ashqar, who moderated the workshop, highlighted that there are 4,500 cases of limb amputation in Gaza as a result of the war, indicating a rising number of persons with disabilities. Additionally, 111,000 people have been injured, some of whom require urgent medical treatment, necessitating government intervention to address their needs.

Muyasar Waqad, Executive Director of the Ein Sultan Camp Women’s Center, stated that the lack of public transportation and accessible public transport vehicles has prevented many women from joining the workforce. Even when taxi services are available, the high fares pose an additional financial burden, negatively impacting women’s employment and income. This is particularly concerning given that most women earn low wages, close to the minimum monthly wage of 1,880 shekels.

Abeer Hamad, Rehabilitation Program Officer at the Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center, highlighted five key exclusionary forces affecting persons with disabilities. First, domestic legislation, procedures, regulations, and programs are not aligned with international conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities. Second, prevailing societal attitudes are often negative and discriminatory towards persons with disabilities. Third, the external environment, including infrastructure and physical accessibility barriers. Fourth, economic power and financial capabilities. Fifth, information technology, as persons with disabilities face challenges in accessing and utilizing it.

Atheer Barghouthi, Representative of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, stated that the ministry has worked on adding signs and guiding panels on sidewalks and areas adjacent to roads, as well as designating special parking spaces for persons with disabilities within the ministry and its affiliated facilities. She also noted that the ministry is actively working to counter negative attitudes within the transport sector and raise awareness on these issues.

For his part, Sayel Hannoun, Director of Public Relations at the Ministry of Local Government, affirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities fully enjoy their rights and that services are provided equally to all. He highlighted the ministry’s efforts in implementing awareness programs aimed at changing societal perceptions regarding persons with disabilities and their needs. Additionally, he pointed to various projects undertaken by the ministry, including the development of fully accessible public parks designed to accommodate all types of disabilities.

Sami Sahweil, Director General of Planning at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, stated that the ministry’s role is to develop policies, plans, and legislation, which it continuously reviews. He added that the Ministry of Women’s Affairs is working to align national legislation with international conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Abeer Al-Mughrabi, Director of Planning at the Ministry of Labor, outlined the key challenges faced by women and persons with disabilities, particularly their access to training centers. She emphasized that one of the solutions to enhance employment opportunities for women and persons with disabilities is to establish an inclusive economic system in Palestine, prioritize digital training programs such as programming and design, and mandate that all government and private platforms be fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

The workshop participants recommended the development of an action plan involving all ministries to adapt public transport vehicles for persons with disabilities, and establish transportation routes to industrial zones, such as the Jericho Industrial Zone, to facilitate women’s access to the labor market. They also emphasized the need to change negative societal attitudes toward persons with disabilities, urging media outlets—especially official ones—to incorporate awareness messages addressing this issue. Additionally, they called for the adoption of short-term and flexible plans for implementing policies and achieving change. The participants also stressed the importance of ensuring that the needs of persons with disabilities are fully considered in any future reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.

مطالب بمواءمة مركبات العمومي وتوفير مواصلات للمناطق الصناعية لتمكين النساء والأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة

Stand in Solidarity with Palestinian Women, Take Action to End the War and the Illegal Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian Territories

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed on November 25th, takes on special urgency this year as Palestinian women continue to face the worst forms of conflict-related violence and escalating hardships amid the ongoing war on Gaza and heightened settler-colonial oppression in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, about 10% of the population has been killed, injured, detained or is missing, 90% has been displaced, and nearly everyone is now living in poverty and is suffering from deprival of access to essential goods and services to fulfill basic human needs, such as food, adequate shelter, clean water & sanitation, clothing, healthcare services, education, and work, as Israel continues to severely limit and obstruct humanitarian aid and any other goods and supplies from entering Gaza and reaching intended recipients. While constantly bombing and shelling civilian areas and infrastructure in Gaza, Israel has also escalated its settler colonial policies and increased the brutality of its repression in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where the Israeli army and settlers collaborate on terrorizing the Palestinian population, confiscating lands, destroying trees and property, killing and maiming, and severely restricting movement.

Women bear the dual burden of gender-based violence and the systemic oppression of occupation and war. A recent DWRC study that examined the effects of Israel’s war on women’s exposure to violence & harassment in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, conducted by researcher Louay Joudeh, found that 93% of women surveyed were displaced, and 75.5% have been exposed to violence by the Israeli occupying power since the war has started. Women were exposed to multiple forms of violence; 95.3% had their homes destroyed, 62.3% lost children and relatives, 49.7% were subjected to ill-treatment by the Israeli occupation, 35.9% were injured, 14.6% were exposed to other forms of violence (psychological violence due to communications from the Israeli occupation, physical violence, deprivation from medical care and food), and 13.2% were detained. Shelters meant to provide safety have often become sites of further abuse, with 64% of women reporting violence, including harassment and exploitation at shelters, workplaces, and when receiving aid and other services since the start of the war on Gaza. Basic necessities are scarce: over 80% lack access to health services, psychological support, or legal aid, and 78% report the absence of safe spaces for women. Economic hardships compound these challenges, as 62% of employed women in our study sample lost their jobs during the war. Many are left without financial assistance or access to livelihood programs, deepening their vulnerability and undermining their resilience.

In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, women have also faced increased insecurity in their homes and while commuting due to constant Israeli military operations and violent raids in Palestinian localities, especially at night, and the intricate network of hundreds of Israeli roadblocks, checkpoints and other barriers to movement, as well as constant Israeli settler violence. The overall stark increase of unemployment to 35% in the West Bank further limits women’s opportunities to enter or remain in the labor market and earn an income.

Palestinian women in Israeli prisons face equally harrowing conditions. According to recent reports, 94 women are currently detained, including three from Gaza. Human rights organizations have extensively documented Palestinian women detainees’ exposure to torture, medical neglect, and various forms of violence, including strip searches that amount to sexual abuse. Many are denied basic hygiene, privacy, and legal representation. Women from Gaza held in military camps are often forcibly disappeared, isolated from their families, and denied their most basic rights under international law.

In these devastating conditions, as their bodies, minds and souls are under constant violent attack, Palestinian women have continued to nurture and care for their families, seeking to ensure their survival and keeping hope alive despite the lack of resources and income.

As the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the voices of Palestinian women must not be overlooked. Their struggles are a stark reminder of the intersection between gender-based violence and broader political oppression. Recommendations from advocacy groups and studies emphasize the need to hold perpetrators accountable, provide access to essential services, and seek international justice for Palestinian women. Addressing their plight requires a commitment to justice, equality, and ensuring the fundamental human right to live free from violence and fear. Thus, on this day, during the 16 days of action and beyond, we call upon you to stand up in solidarity with Palestinian women, speak out and act for the achievement of an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, to bring an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories as required by the ICJ advisory opinion, and support the full implementation of international resolutions and international law.   

Ramallah & Gaza, 29/10/2024: The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, in partnership with the National Society for Rehabilitation and the National Coalition “My Right”, launched the “Partners for Equity, Partners for Change” project, in Ramallah and Gaza yesterday. The project, funded by the European Union, was inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Ibrahim Laafia, Head of Cooperation at the Office of the European Union Representative (West Bank & Gaza Strip, UNRWA), and representatives from civil society organizations, official institutions, and higher education institutions.

The project aims at enhancing Palestinian civil society organizations’ contribution to advancing equal rights and opportunities in Palestine, in particular the socio-economic rights of women and persons with disabilities.

The project will work to strengthen the capacities of women’s civil society organizations and other member organizations of the National Coalition “My Right” in strengthening the economic, social, and cultural rights of women, including women with disabilities, increasing the awareness and knowledge of the youth, and engaging them in promoting labor rights, as well as the social and economic rights of women and women with disabilities. Additionally, the project will foster cooperation and dialogue between grassroots civil society organizations and governmental institutions in order to create an enabling environment for women’s work, improve civil society monitoring, and advocate for national bodies to fulfill their commitments towards enhancing the social and economic rights of women and women with disabilities.

The project targets 300 members, activists, and representatives of the designated civil society organizations. It also seeks to engage and benefit 12,000 women and men in the targeted communities through its activities, including at least 6,000 youth and 200 persons with disabilities. Additionally, the project will facilitate dialogue with 100 decision-makers, officials, and employees from key ministries and relevant governmental institutions at the national, regional, and local levels.

In her address on behalf of the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, the Center’s Financial and Administrative Director, Mrs. Sana Asbah, welcomed the attendees and participants at the project launch event in the West Bank, with others joining via Zoom from the Gaza Strip. She expressed DWRC’s high appreciation for the ongoing support from the European Union, which has contributed to the successful implementation of previous projects aimed at strengthening the role of Palestinian civil society. She added: “Through our programs and the ‘Partners for Equity, Partners for Change’ project, we look forward to working towards justice, equality, and equity for women in all fields of life. We aim to have supportive laws and legislation that protect women’s rights, and lead to providing creative and innovative elements for success, along with a supportive environment and empowerment programs.”

For his part, Mr. Ibrahim Laafia, Head of Cooperation at the Office of the European Union Representative at the European Union Representative Office (West Bank & Gaza Strip, UNRWA), thanked the project organizers and the attendees, who represent the strength of cooperation and partnership between Palestinian civil society institutions and the European Union and Palestine.

He said that “the launch of the project today is important for us at the European Union, as we place great importance on our partnership with Palestine and Palestinian civil society, especially since one of the goals of this partnership is to enhance the role of women in society, the labor market, and all levels, so that they can play their role as a fundamental actor in building society and a prosperous economy”.

In his speech via Zoom, Mr. Jamal Al-Rozzi, Director of the National Society for Rehabilitation, said that “the project’s value stems from the fact that the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center works to empower people to attain their rights, including persons with disabilities, while our association works on the inclusion of persons with disabilities and granting them their rights to social and economic justice.” He added that “the project was designed before the war in Gaza, but it will contribute to bringing persons with disabilities and women to social justice and providing them with opportunities to access the labor market with dignity and equality.”

Mrs. Muyassar Waqad, Director of the Women’s Center in Ain Sultan Camp and representative of the “My Right” National Coalition, said that “the coalition was formed in partnership with a group of grassroots and civil society organizations to empower women, whose social and economic rights are violated. She added that the coalition has managed to build strategic capacities and will work on implementing real programs on the ground, not just advocacy, and will highlight women, their struggles, and the inappropriate working environment.”

This project, which will be implemented until January 2028, is supported by the European Union through a grant of 760,491 EUR through the Thematic Programme for Civil Society Organizations under the Neighborhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)

On International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2024, Palestinians face famine and unprecedent poverty levels due to the Israeli Occupying Power measures.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed on October 17, reminds us of the global need to unite efforts to fight poverty. However, in Gaza and the West Bank, the situation has worsened dramatically in the past year.

A May 2024 World Bank Report indicated that half a million jobs had been lost by the Palestinian economy since October 2023. This includes an estimated loss of 200,000 jobs in the Gaza Strip, 144,000 jobs in the West Bank, and 148,000 by Palestinians from the West Bank employed in the Israeli labor market.

A further World Bank Update of September 2024 indicates that the economic and social conditions in Palestine have deteriorated to the extent that nearly the entire population of Gaza living in poverty. It also indicates that in the West Bank, a sharp economic contraction since late 2023 has caused a dramatic rise in poverty, with the short-term poverty rate more than doubling from 12% to 28% by mid-2024. These trends indicate a deepening crisis with long-term repercussions for the population.

In Gaza, 2.3 million Palestinians have been trapped by Israel for over a year in an active war zone subjected to constant bombings, shelling, destruction of housing, infrastructure and healthcare facilities, displaced over and over again, with no hope for safety from harm even while being treated in hospitals. Due to severe Israeli restrictions imposed on goods and supplies allowed into Gaza, and total blockades of all of the Gaza Strip or parts of it (at the moment, northern Gaza), all Gaza residents have been exposed to famine conditions, and some of its most vulnerable have starved to death. Thus, the latest UN-partnered IPC report indicates that 96% of the population, approximately 2.15 million people, are experiencing acute food insecurity at a “crisis” level or higher, categorized as level three on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) index.

On this day, as the world focuses on ending poverty, it is crucial to recognize that in Gaza and the West Bank, and the surrounding region, this can only be achieved through upholding international law, and mobilizing all efforts to achieve peace, justice and prosperity, starting with the imposition of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and a clear plan to end the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

On the occasion of #WorldTeachersDay, celebrated on October 5, the Democracy and Workers’ Rights would like to highlight some facts and figures provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Education that show the devastating impact of one year of war on #Gaza waged with total and flagrant disregard of the most fundamental norms of international humanitarian law.

We denounce #Israel‘s systematic destruction of the Palestinian education system in Gaza in blatant violation of the Geneva conventions. Over 530 educational staff & 11,109 students at Palestinian schools & universities in #Gaza have been killed since October 2023, and over 3675 staff and 17639 students injured.

We also denounce constant attacks against educational facilities in the West Bank, especially against schools that serve Bedouin & herding communities against whom the Israeli occupying power, in collusion with and/or through protecting the actions of armed Israeli settlers, is implementing a plan of accelerated ethnic cleansing.

In addition to the numerous rules that prohibit the targeting of civilians, civilian objects and facilities, the 4th Geneva Convention also stipulates that “The Occupying Power shall, with the co-operation of the national and local authorities, facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children”. (art. 50). Yet in Gaza, educational facilities and school have been subject to massive destruction and damage through Israeli bombing and shelling, including while providing shelter to displaced persons. For the second year on a row, teachers and students were unable to return to their classrooms. In the West Bank, schools and universities have also been subjected to attacks and vandalism. There is no safe work environment for Palestinian teachers, not in the Gaza Strip and not in the West Bank. Yet, they all persevere in their noble educational mission. In Gaza, teaching takes place online and in educational points set up for this purpose until formal education can be resumed. In the West Bank, where governmental teachers have not been paid their full wages for months, teachers and administrators do their best under extremely difficult circumstances to ensure that schools, training centers and higher education institutions continue to educate Palestine’s children and youth, and provide vocational training and continuous education opportunities to adults.

We salute all the courageous teachers, who brave the dangers of arrest, injury and death, to show up every day in their classrooms and hold class in the worst of conditions, and all the other dedicated staff of educational institutions. We call for continued solidarity and action from the international labor movement and global unions to protect Palestinian teachers and other educational institutions staff, uphold international law and bring perpetrators of violations to justice.

#WorldTeachersDay2024

Ramallah’s Commerce and Industry Department and the Governorate of Al-Bireh completed a training course on professional health and safety standards, workplace injuries, and first aid procedures.
Ramallah’s Commerce and Industry Department and the Governorate of Al-Bireh conducted a training course on occupational health and safety standards, workplace injuries, and first aid procedures.

The three-day seminar had 28 participants representing Palestinian establishments in Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate. The sessions were led by legal consultant Samah Fraikhneh from the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, who over two days offered exceptional training on professional safety and health regulations, workplace injury laws, and decisions regarding occupational health and safety committees and supervisors. On the third day, paramedic Bassam Harish of the Red Crescent Society led the training.

At the end of the training, Mr. Ayman Maimi, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Business Development Center at the Chamber of Commerce, and Ms. Huwida Ahmed, Coordinator of the Legal Department at the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, handed out certificates to the participants.

On September 17, World Patient Safety Day aims to raise global awareness about the importance of patient safety in healthcare. In Palestine, this year’s focus is mainly affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis due to the Israel’s war on Gaza and military operations in the West Bank. In this context, primary concerns for patient safety are about ensuring access to basic medical care and protecting health infrastructure from damage or restoring its functionality as fast as possible after attacks.

Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse due to the blockade and repeated Israeli attacks against health facilities, staff and vehicles. With more than 100,000 casualties as reported by OCHA, the healthcare system is overwhelmed by the massive loads of patients, far exceeding its capacity. According to OCHA, health facilities are severely compromised, with 58% of hospitals non-functional, and those still operating are at 359% capacity. 885 health care workers have been killed since October 2023 according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which increases the workload on those remaining. Constant attacks on healthcare facilities have severely affected the ability to treat patients, whether they are injured in the conflict or suffering from chronic illnesses. In addition, medical staff are operating under extreme conditions, with hospitals suffering from a lack of electricity, clean water, and adequate sanitation. This has increased the risk of infections, such as sepsis, which is responsible for high mortality rates in conflict zones. For the first time in 25 years, a case of polio has been confirmed and a vast vaccination campaign has been launched in an attempt to vaccinate more than 600,000 children at risk of developing the disease in the Gaza Strip. Around 995,000 cases of acute respiratory infections have been recorded, 577,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea, and 107,000 cases of acute jaundice symptoms. Famine and chronic acute malnutrition increase greatly the risks of diseases and infections.

The war on Gaza has also significantly worsened the situation for patients with chronic diseases, who already faced limited access to healthcare. Before the conflict, around 50% of the population in Gaza depended on the public health system for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Since October 7, the situation has deteriorated further.

The blockade on Gaza has critically worsened the healthcare crisis by preventing patients with severe injuries and chronic illnesses from leaving the strip for essential medical treatments. According to HRW, before the war, over 2,000 patients were referred annually for specialized care, such as cancer therapies and heart surgeries, which are unavailable locally. However, the ongoing closure of border crossings has trapped thousands of critically injured patients in Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals, which face severe shortages of specialized care and essential medications. Only 41% of critically injured patients had their requests for evacuation approved, and only 35% have actually been evacuated. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that 30% of necessary medications for chronic diseases are now inaccessible, leading to an alarming rise in preventable deaths. The combination of war-related destruction and the blockade has plunged Gaza’s healthcare system into a dire humanitarian crisis.

On the other hand, Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons are facing severe neglect in terms of healthcare, with many being denied proper medical treatment, leading to preventable deaths. Reports indicates that prisoners with chronic illnesses or injuries are often left without timely access to hospitals or specialized care, exacerbating their health conditions. This denial of care violates basic human rights and international laws on the treatment of prisoners. On World Patient Safety Day, which emphasizes the importance of safety and access to healthcare for all, it is crucial to highlight the situation of these prisoners. The lack of suitable medical care in prisons directly contravenes the global principles of patient safety and human dignity.

DWRC stands in solidarity with healthcare staff, patients and their families, and strongly condemns the attacks on the Palestinian healthcare system and devastation that has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including vulnerable patients, without access to essential healthcare. As an organization dedicated to upholding human rights and social justice, we are deeply concerned about the severe impact this conflict has had on Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system, especially on the safety and well-being of patients, as well as the rapid deterioration of access to healthcare in the West Bank due to repeated attacks against medical facilities and vehicles, and isolation of communities.

On World Patient Safety Day, we stress that patient safety is not just about medical care, but also about the protection of essential human rights, including access to life-saving treatment and healthcare during times of war and conflict as guaranteed by the most fundamental rules of international humanitarian law. We call for immediate international action to protect the rights and safety of Gaza’s civilians, particularly patients whose lives depend on consistent medical care. We urge for the lifting of the blockade to allow the evacuation of casualties and access to medical supplies. On this day of global awareness, we would like to emphasize that the right to health is a fundamental human right that must be defended for all.