Conference on Gender as an Entry Point to Development and Justice in Palestine
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Conference on
Gender as an Entry
Point to Development and Justice in Palestine
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19 November 2012
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Institute of Law,
Birzeit University
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Conference
Idea, Objectives and Sessions
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This
Conference on Gender as an Entry Point to Development and Justice in
Palestine is one in a series of activities launched by the Institute of Law
(IoL) at Birzeit University and relevant programmes to consolidate principles
of good governance, rule of law and equality within the Palestinian society.
The IoL initiatives are further tailored to promote legal development and
enhance institution building of the future independent State of Palestine.
These principles are inherently connected with gender, which has been pivotal
to the consolidation of essential values, namely non-discrimination on grounds
of gender, rejection of all gender-based violation, equal opportunities for
citizens, participation in a nationwide development process, and administration
of justice and equity. Beyond doubt, to materialize primary safeguards of
womenrsquo;s rights will help attain these goals. Mostly, women do not enjoy the
same rights as men do, particularly in participation in the public life,
decision making, and access to public office, or advocacy of public policies
and legislation. Real impediments are not only generated by current societal
conditions, development or underdevelopment, inherited customs and traditions,
dominant religion or common culture. More often than not, current legislation
and associated enforcement practices do not take account of the particular
roles played by men and women or of womenrsquo;s special status and need compared to
menrsquo;s. In reality, law enforcement bodies understand well how to deal with and
apply legal norms, but might not appreciate or recognize the impact of law
enforcement on the society or on certain social groups, adversely affecting and
causing damage to such groups. In light of the distinctive role played by the
Palestinian womenrsquo;s movement over the past years, gender and womenrsquo;s empowerment
has been centre of much controversy and debate in Palestine. For over 60 years,
Palestinian women have provided a living example of female participation in the
political, social and economic life as well as in the resistance of injustice
and Israeli occupation practices. However, womenrsquo;s role and experience have not
yet managed to materialize balance within the Palestinian society. Generated by
law, law enforcement agencies, society or decision makers, a plethora of
gender-based gaps are still in place. A conceptual link between gender,
development and justice is also missing.
Bringing
together renowned experts, academics and specialists in law, gender and
development, this Conference provides answers to significant questions: How can
we promote gender in the context of local development endeavors? How can we use
gender as an entry point to administering justice and achieving equality? What
capacities are available? What challenges are ahead? Working papers to be
presented in the Conference will discuss gender integration policies, focusing
on whether these policies have accomplished designed goals of effecting desired
transformation. Are our institutions willing to adopt the concept of gender as
a common culture and practice? Do they possess needed resources to do so? The
Conference deliberations, working papers and recommendations will contribute to
promoting local institutions in general, and justice and local government
sectors in particular, to adopt approaches and plans with a view to incorporate
gender issues and needs as a priority with respective policies and programmes.
The
Conference comprises three major sessions. Addressing a variety of themes, a
number of working papers will be presented in each session. Below is a briefing
note about the Conference sessions:
Session
1 ndash; Gender: Societyrsquo;s Introversion or Openness towards the Idea
This
session highlights the theoretical dimension of gender, with a particular focus
on the societyrsquo;s understanding or appreciation of the idea. Four working papers
will be presented in this session: (1) The context in which the gender idea has
developed in the Palestinian society, including an overview of relevant
obstacles and challenges; (2) The link between gender and principles of good
governance and rule of law through a re-understanding and analysis of
governance values and legal provisions from a gender perspective; (3) The
developing theories of psychology and women and relevant impact on womenrsquo;s
empowerment through an understanding of womenrsquo;s particularities and needs;nbsp; and (4) Gender and violence measurement
indicators from a statistical perspective.
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Session
2 ndash; Gender and Law as an Entry Point to Justice: Consistence or Contradiction.
Where are Gender-based Violence and Breached Equality Now?
This
session focuses on the legal dimension of gender appreciation. How does the law
create consistencies or anomalies when social discrimination is covered by law
or when legal provisions are misapplied, thereby prejudicing justice values?
Four working papers will be delivered in this session: (1) Gender-based
violence in the Palestinian society (causes and analysis tools); (2) Gender and
penal legislation (violence by virtue of the law); (3) Gender and Family Law
(discrimination by virtue of the law); and (4) Electoral Law and quota
application (experience of the new local elections ndash; progress or decline).
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Session
3 ndash; Experiences of Gender Integration in the Palestinian Context with a view to
Materialize Desired Development: Preparedness and Challenges
This
session addresses the institutional and policy dimension of gender integration
in connection with local and social development. Are Palestinian institutions
really prepared and willing to integrate gender in relevant policies? What are
the experiences, attempts and predicaments to gender integration? Four working
papers will be presented in this session: (1) Experience of Gender in Family
Courts, (2) Experience of gender institutionalization in the local government
sector; (3) Experience of the Minister of Womenrsquo;s Affairs in gender policy
making within the public sector; (4) Experience of the police Family Protection
Departments in reducing and addressing gender-based violence.
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In
the Conference final session, the IoL will present major conclusions of the
policy paper it has developed on How much the Justice and Local Government
Sectors are Prepared to Integrate Gender in Policies, Programmes and
Legislation.
This
Conference culminates activities launched by the Development of Training
Curricula for the Justice and Local Government Sectors and Training of Judges,
Prosecutors, Lawyers and Local Government Unit Staff project. Implemented
by the IoL since late 2010, this project is part of the UN Millennium
Development Goal on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women in the
occupied Palestinian territory. Six UN Agencies, namely UNDP/PAPP, UN-Women,
ILO, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNRWA, are implementing a Joint Programme funded by the
Government of Spain on Gender Equality and Womenrsquo;s Empowerment.
nbsp;
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Conference on
Gender as Entry
Point to Development and Justice in Palestine
Programme
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08:30 ndash; 90:00
Registration
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09:00 ndash; 09:45
Opening
Address of the President of
Birzeit University
Khalil al Hindi
Address of the Minister of
Womenrsquo;s Affairs
Rabihah Diab
Address of the Minister of Local
Government
Khaled al Qawasmi
Address of the UNDP
Representative
hellip;hellip;
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Address of the IoL Director
Jamil Salem
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09:45 ndash; 11:00
1st Session
Gender: Societyrsquo;s Introversion or
Openness towards the Idea
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1
Gender and
Governance: Re-understanding and Analysis of Governance values and Legal
provision from a Gender Perspective
Islah
Jad
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2
The Developing
Context of the Gender Idea in the Palestinian Society: Experience, Obstacles
and Challenges
Zahirah
Kamal
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3
Theories of Psychology
and Women: Impact on Womenrsquo;s Empowerment by Understanding Womenrsquo;s Particularities
and Needs
Shafiq
Masalhah
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4
Gender and Violence
Measurement Indicators to Serve Development and Justice Policies
Ashraf Hamdan
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11:00 ndash; 11:15
Coffee Break
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11:15 ndash; 12:30
2nd Session
Gender and Law as an Entry Point to
Justice: Consistence or Contradiction
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1
Gender-based Violence
in the Palestinian Society: Causes and Analysis Tools
Sama Uweidah
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2
Gender and Penal
Legislation: Violence by virtue of the Law
Ahmed Barrak
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3
Gender and
Family Law: Discrimination by virtue of the Law
Saridah Hussein
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4
Electoral Law
and Quota Application: Experience of the New Local Elections ndash; Progress or Decline
Rima Nazzal
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12:30 ndash; 12:45
Coffee Break
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3rd Session
Experiences of Gender Integration in
the Palestinian Context with a view to Materialise Desired Development:
Preparedness and Challenges
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1
Experience of
Gender in Family Courts
Sumoud ad Damiri
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2
Experience of
Gender in the Local Government Sector: Successes and Failures
Hanan Imseih
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3
Experience of
the Minister of Womenrsquo;s Affairs in Gender Policy Making within the Public Sector;nbsp;
Fatima Radaydah
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4
Experience of
the Police Family Protection Departments in Reducing and Addressing
Gender-based Violence.
Wafarsquo; Mursquo;ammar
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14:00 ndash; 15:00
Final Session
How much the
Justice and Local Government Sectors are Prepared to Integrate Gender in
Policies, Programmes and Legislation
Luna shamia
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Conference
Recommendations
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Conclusion
and Thanks
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