In this issue, UN Women in Palestine Newsletter focuses on our work in Gaza to improve the response and assistance to the needs of Gazan women. Plus, you can also read about our last programmes updates, and more specifically this month, our work in building capacities of justice and security services in responding to women victims of violence.

In the Issue 5 of UN Women in Palestine Newsletter, you can find out about our Access to Justice Programme and our role in enhancing protection and reintegration services, and supporting the Palestinian Authority and its institutions in building the capacity of police services, judiciary, social workers and civil advocates to ensure proper response to incidents of domestic violence. Plus, you can learn more about our last activities in our programmes.

Several international instruments emphasize the right of women to political participation and access to decision-making positions. The Basic Law of Palestine, as well as other legislation, also emphasizes women’s right to political participation. Women’s participation in political life is important because it realizes democracy in society, contributes to higher development rates, and embodies complete citizenship rights for women. Women’s participation in political life depends upon social, political and cultural factors and, in the Palestinian case, the Israeli occupation, which hinders political practice for men and women.

This month, UN Women in Palestine focuses more specifically on the Spring Forward Programme, one month after its official launch. You will learn more about innovation in crafts design and production for women’s economic empowerment and the work with political parties to empower women in elections.You can also find out about our last interventions and activities, from our trainings on HIV/AIDS for national stakeholders to the building of a restaurant or green houses as a new business opportunity for the women in the Jordan Valley.

The right to work is a fundamental human right enshrined in international conventions and treaties, as well as in local Palestinian laws. Women’s participation in the labour market is important for society – in addition to its role in empowering women and expanding their social and economic choices, women’s participation helps achieve satisfactory economic growth rates, reduce poverty and achieve the general goals of development.

In this issue, UN Women in Palestine Newsletter highlights the first visit of John Hendra, UN Women Deputy Director, to UN Women office in Palestine. We also discuss UN Women’s support to Palestinian ministries in the development of their strategies 2014-2016, the official launch of the Spring Forward programme, and our last activities in Gaza aimed to increase women’s involvement in peace and state-building processes.

The Palestinian Basic Law emphasizes the contents of international instruments. Article (9) thereof provides that “Palestinians shall be equal before the law and the judiciary, without distinction”. Article (10) of the same law provides that basic human rights and liberties shall be protected and respected, and it calls on the Palestinian Authority to act immediately to accede to international declarations and instruments that protect human rights. In that vein, the government has announced its commitment to developing a comprehensive and complete system for social protection based on rights and ensuring a decent and dignified life for citizens, particularly the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups.

In this issue, UN Women in Palestine Newsletter looks at the gendered impact of humanitarian crisis and emerging needs, and the importance to bring gender equality dimensions into humanitarian programming, response, and assistance. You will also find out more about our new expert in gender mainstreaming, 5 new projects on women’s political empowerment, and the up-coming launch of the UN Women Spring Forward for Women Programme to support political and economic empowerment of women.

Education plays a vital role in building and developing the human capital of any community, and serves as the basis for sustainable development. With limited natural resources, Palestinian society’s most valuable asset is human resources. Thus, investment in education is indispensable to building the economy and general prosperity, as well as key to ensuring an enabling socio-cultural environment that supports women and their rights.

In its first issue, UN Women in Palestine Newsletter looks at the new developments at the Palestinian Civil Police Family Protection Units in combating family violence, reports on the visit of the Vice-Chair of the CEDAW Committee to Palestine, and discusses how to ensure that women's empowerment-related priorities are integrated in the national planning cycle.

In the unstable and deteriorated political, economic and social environment of the occupied Palestinian territory, Palestinian women continue to sustain the pressures of social and economic insecurity and struggle to meet the basic needs of their family. The report analyses the contribution and impact of UN Women project ''Establishing, Rehabilitating and Activating Women’s Centres'' in improving capabilities of vulnerable groups of women in coping with their situation and seeking change.

The need to establish a space, where women victims of violence in the occupied Palestinian territory feel safe and have access to specialized services led to the establishment of the Mehwar Centre in 2008. This report is a tribute to the brave women agents of change, while illustrating the achievements of the Centre between 2008 and 2012, as well as the diversified efforts and collaboration that exist among its key partners.

The cultural and creative industry in the occupied Palestinian territory is in dangerous decline. Decades of difficult economic conditions and periods of low tourism have caused workshops to close and production units to shut down. From the obstacles faced by the producers in marketing their products to the review of legal status related to industry, the study examines ways to revive this industry and preserve Palestinian heritage while contributing to strengthening and stabilizing the Palestinian economy.

Are national priorities for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment reflected in the Palestinian National Development Plan 2011-2013 (PNDP) and its sector strategies, or embedded in donor and aid coordination activities? In the context of the review and development of the new Palestinian National Development Plan, the study provides a needed analysis and recommended actions to strengthen the gender perspective in aid and development effectiveness for donors, national partners and other development actors, including the United Nations.

Strategic Note & Annual Work Plan 2013

Establishing a space, where women victims of violence feel safe and have access to specialized services requires specialized, professional, motivated, and talented staff. These recruitment guidelines offer practical support to organizations and institutions responsible for managing of anti-violence centres, and provide guidance in the selection of appropriate personnel that demonstrate proven professional capacities and personal qualities needed to carry out their job functions.

Supported by UN Women, Exploring the Dynamics and Vulnerabilities of HIV Transmission Amongst Sex Workers in the Palestinian Context aims to emphasize the importance of strengthening the current national HIV and AIDS policy in the oPt, dispel stigmas attached to sex work and call for greater efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and support reintegration.

“Who Answers to Gazan Women? is a new UN Women research in the occupied Palestinian territory that exposes the varying coping strategies Gazan women have employed to compensate for their household's income collapse under the combined impacts of Israeli siege, internal political strife, military destruction and ongoing economic blockade.

The Mehwar Centre opened its doors in February 2007 with the mission to address gender- based violence in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Since its opening, the centre has sheltered approximately 150 women and 40 children victims of violence.

Developed by the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Women's Affairs with support from UN Women, the Cross-Sectoral National Gender Strategy for the occupied Palestinian territory serves as a practical road map for the government to address gender-related issues on the national agenda and supports the implementation of the 2011-2013 Palestinian National Plan.