Students address laws to counter discrimination against women in lecture

The Deanship of Student Affairs at Birzeit University, together with the Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling, recently concluded a training course entitled “The Rights of Women are Human Rights” on the university’s campus. 

The four-day training course, attended by 30 Birzeit University students, reviewed gender concepts and gender-based abuse in the purview of Palestinian legislation, and held group discussions on bills of law, such as the Family Protection Law, and laws that target discrimination against women. 

Additionally, the attendees examined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women – which Palestine has recently joined –  and explored the changes that the Palestinian legislature has to introduce to uphold its responsibilities to the convention. 

Dean of Student Affairs at Birzeit University Dr. Mohammad Al Ahmad said that “such initiatives are important in raising students’ awareness of social and community issues around them.” He added: “It equips them with the tools and knowledge necessary for them to play their roles as community activists and leaders.” 

The training course is the latest in an initiative launched by the Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling, in partnership with Palestinian universities, to raise awareness on major issues facing women in Palestine.