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Ramallah – 08/05/2025

The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center (DWRC) concluded a training workshop titled “Trade Union Organizing Skills” with the participation of 17 trade unionists representing the Union of Tailoring, Weaving and Textile Workers in Salfit and Tulkarem, the Union of Kindergarten Workers in Abu Dis and Jericho, the Postal Services Workers Union in Hebron, the Secretariat Workers Union in Tulkarem, the Health Services Workers Union (branches in Qalqilya and Hebron), the Municipality Employees Union in Qalqilya, the Administrative Services Workers Union in Ramallah, the Palestinian Electricians Union in Yatta, the South Electricity Company Workers Union, Qalqilya Sports Club, and the Municipality Workers Union of Nuba in Hebron.

The training opened with introductions among participants, an overview of the Center and the workshop, and a discussion of the objectives of the training, the importance of the participants’ engagement, and the expected outcomes that unions should work toward as a result of this session.

The training concluded with a set of recommendations, including the continued dissemination of union-related information through training workshops, awareness sessions, and meetings organized by DWRC. It was also recommended to diversify participants to ensure the sustainability and expansion of outreach efforts, and to distribute awareness brochures and posters via social media, which has become the most widely used platform by individuals. Finally, it was recommended to follow up with unions on their efforts to improve working conditions based on the knowledge gained during the training.

This training was facilitated by Omar Al-Taooz and Amneh Al-Omari from the Culture and Training Unit, with the participation of DWRC Project Manager Karin Metz and representatives from the Olof Palme International Center, which supported the implementation of this training workshop. The session was part of a broader series of activities organized by DWRC to promote the right to freedom of association and union organizing.

On the occasion of May Day, DWRC calls on workers and unions worldwide to strengthen their solidarity actions with their Palestinian sisters and brothers, and call on governments to stop Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and bring an end to its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory and its apartheid regime
Ramallah & Gaza – 1 May 2025 – The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center in Palestine sends its solidarity greetings to workers and unions in Palestine and worldwide on the occasion of May Day, calling on the global labor movement to harness its collective power to organize and mobilize for stopping Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and bringing an end to its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory and apartheid regime. We would also like to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to our partners, and all organizations, unions, comrades and activists, who have been standing up and raising their voices for peace and justice in Palestine and all other countries affected by conflicts, denial of most fundamental human rights and human dignity.
In 2024, the unemployment rate in occupied Palestine reached 51%, 80% in the Gaza Strip and 35% in the West Bank, compared to an overall rate of 31% in 2023 before the war. Three quarters of Palestinian youth (74%) are outside education, training and the labor market and 61% of West Bank workers are in informal employment, i.e. deprived of their most basic labor rights. ta
The war on Gaza has been ongoing for 18 months. 52,418 Palestinians have been killed and 118,091 injured (MOH Gaza), with thousands more still missing and presumed dead, while over 900 have been killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023. For the past 60 days, Israel has refused to allow any food, medical supplies, fuel and other essential goods to enter into the Gaza Strip, exposing 2.2 million Palestinians, including 1 million children, to heightened risks of dying from diseases, injuries and malnutrition, and, if they survive, long-term health consequences due to prolonged severe trauma and deprival of food and clean water. Since ending the ceasefire, Israel has resumed its bombing and shelling of homes, tents, hospitals and agricultural lands. This very morning, the media reported that 3 farmers were targeted by an Israeli missile and killed while on their way to their farmlands in Khan Younis, amidst an acute food shortage where meager local agricultural produce has become a lifeline for many. Bakeries in Gaza are no longer functioning. UN aid supplies warehouses are empty, and 95% of humanitarian organizations had to suspend or dramatically cut their services to the population. 65,000 persons have sought medical attention due to the effects of malnutrition according to the Gaza governmental media office.
As the global union movement is engaging in a historical struggle to preserve democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms, and labor and social benefits from the destructive effects of authoritarian and far-right regimes and policies serving the interests of the richest, it has also reaffirmed its engagement for promoting peace and justice and working to protect and safeguard international institutions and the international legal framework that has underpinned the advancement of universal human rights.
In this critical context, DWRC reiterates its calls on workers and unions worldwide to stand with the Palestinian people, and call on their governments to take all measures necessary to stop the starvation of Gaza’s population, impose a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and bring an end to Israel’s illegal settler-colonial occupation of the Palestinian Territory and its apartheid regime, in line with UN resolutions and in compliance with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) Advisory Opinion of July 2024 on The Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which concluded on the following legal obligations of other States:
“All States are under an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They are also under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
It is for all States, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise of the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination is brought to an end.
In addition, all the States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention have the obligation, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as embodied in that Convention.”
On May Day and every day until we achieve freedom, peace and justice, we ask you to spread awareness and act in solidarity with Palestinian workers:
* Watch & share our video on how Israeli movement obstacles in the West Bank are impacting Palestinian workers on a daily basis: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1QuQlPpoMG8
Organize debates, discussions, solidarity events, engage in cooperation projects and send delegations to Palestine
* Send letters to US embassies and consulates expressing your rejection and condemnation of US policies that shield, fund and enable Israel’s war in Gaza and the continuation of its illegal settler-colonial occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory
*Undertake advocacy towards your government and parliament for the adoption of concrete measures, including both ways embargos on arms, to pressure Israel to abide with international law and provide international protection to the Palestinian people
*And if you are already doing all this, reach out to other unions and social forces to join you and the growing civil society movement seeking to shift the balance of power

Monday, 14/04/2025 – Ramallah

The Culture and Training Unit at the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center held a consultative workshop on occupational health and safety issues with partner unions. The participating unions included the Palestinian Electricians’ Union, the Union of Workers and Employees of Qalqilya Municipality, employees of the Southern Electricity Company, the Health Services and Postal Services sectors, Palestine Technical University – Khadoorie (Ramallah and Al-Arroub branches), the Modern University College, construction and building workers, garment workers, and the New Trade Unions Federation in Tubas.

The workshop began with an introduction to the Center, the purpose of the event, and an overview of the participating groups. It started with filling out a diagnostic form to assess the unions’ status regarding occupational health and safety. The form addressed items related to occupational health and safety committees and supervisors, a healthy and safe work environment, and the role of unions in monitoring health and safety issues in workplaces.

The workshop focused on discussing the importance of occupational health and safety across various sectors and workplaces. It emphasized the role of the occupational health and safety supervisor, outlining their qualifications and their role in supporting the workplace to ensure it is safe, healthy, and decent for workers.

Professor Jihad Abu Al-Rub, a lecturer at the Modern University College, presented a recently published research paper in an international scientific journal on occupational safety management and its relation to institutional sustainability. The research also explored the psychological aspects affecting both workers and employers in this field. His presentation was part of the workshop aimed at unions, to strengthen their role in shaping occupational health and safety policies within various Palestinian institutions.

The workshop continued with each union presenting its situation regarding occupational health and safety issues individually. The participating unions agreed on a common goal: to establish occupational health and safety committees, formalize their operation within internal regulations, and work on training a staff member specialized in occupational health and safety, assigning them exclusively to this role and including it in their 2025 action plan as a result of the consultative workshop held today. Alternatively, previously formed committees will be reactivated in coordination and follow-up with the Center.

The unions emphasized the importance of adhering to occupational safety standards and measures, especially in sectors that involve mobility and interaction with the public—such as postal services and the health services sector, where workers are exposed to chemicals, radiation, and long-term risks of occupational injuries and diseases. They also highlighted the electrical sector, where workers deal with wiring, installations, and high voltage, which can sometimes lead to fatal incidents.

In conclusion, the union representatives put forward a set of recommendations centered on the need to continue organizing and implementing workshops for responsible bodies, administrative committees, employers, decision-makers, and the general assemblies to raise awareness of the importance of occupational health and safety. They also stressed the importance of collaboration with the Ministry of Labor through dialogue sessions that include the tripartite parties, increasing the number of unions participating in meetings and workshops, revisiting related topics, and implementing necessary amendments in light of the diagnostic form findings.

The recommendations further included ongoing follow-up of the unions’ work and that of the occupational health and safety committees, sharing their success stories, conducting more specialized workshops on occupational health and safety, and intensifying awareness sessions and workshops that address topics such as workplace injuries, related rulings, and legal procedures. Special focus was also placed on engaging new union members in the Center’s activities.

This workshop is part of a series of activities implemented by the Center on issues related to occupational health and safety, under the project titled “Promoting Workers’ Rights in Occupational Health and Safety.”

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.