a graduation ceremony for participants in the Integrating Gender Criteria in the Local Government Sector programme
On Wednesday, 2 May 2012, the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit University (BZU) organised a graduation ceremony for participants in the Integrating Gender Criteria in the Local Government Sector programme. The ceremony was observed by Mrs. Rabiha Thyab, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Dr. Khalil al Hindi, BZU President, Dr. Ghassan Faramand, IoL Director, Mrs. Hanan Imseih, Representative of the Minister of Local Government, and Mr. Khaled Shahwan, Representative of the UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP). The training initiative was implemented throughout Palestinian governorates between September 2011 and February 2012.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Hindi expressed his pride of IoL’s activities and programmes, including training, legislative drafting, consultancies, and research services delivered to BZU departments and to the broader Palestinian society. “The IoL is a significant think tank of legal information and legislation. It organises seminars and conferences on themes of national and international law.” Dr. Hindi also announced that BZU is seriously considering further technical support to the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), including local government units (LGUs), and Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA). This effort pursues common national goals of building institutions of the independent State of Palestine.
Mrs. Thyab said integrating gender criteria in the local government sector positively promotes equality between women and men. It further helps building a civil, democratic, society that is dominated by social justice and real partnership.
Highlighting past and present achievements, Mrs. Thyab stated that the MoWA has played an active role in developing national government strategies, legislation, and gender-sensitive budgets. In addition to compiling the National Strategy against Gender-based Violence, the MoWA has established gender units across line ministries. Women have further been capable of holding unconventional positions, including governors, ministers, political party secretaries, members on the PLO Executive Committee, Head of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, etc.
Mrs. Imseih explained that LGUs are required to respond effectively to increasing local community needs. LGUs should be well informed of the respective communities’ status, groups, resources, and trends. This will only materialise through an active interaction with all community groups. Mrs. Imseih expressed her thanks to IoL for contributing to social issues, including multiple programmes targeting development of the local government sector.
Mr. Shahwan thanked the IoL for its significant contribution that has rendered successful the Integrating Gender Criteria in the Local Government Sector programme. This endeavour has been designed to integrate gender criteria in the work of LGUs, empower Palestinian women, and achieve sustainable development throughout Palestine.
Dr. Faramand said “this graduation ceremony culminates completion of the first phase of the Integrating Gender Criteria in the Local Government Sector programme. In this phase, training and mentoring was successfully provided to a total of 346 LGU staff members at 163 LGUs across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. As part of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 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, have implemented this Joint Programme funded by the Government of Spain on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, covering the period 2009-2012. Also in partnerships with agencies of the Palestinian National Authority, the programme has been led by the MoWA.
In conclusion of the ceremony, certificates were conferred on participants.
