Towards a Palestinian Democratic Women Movement in Lebanon

Under the slogan, ‘Towards building a Palestinian democratic women movement’ and in the presence of Palestinian, Lebanese and regional women groups, the Palestinian Democratic Women’s Organization (Nada), opened yesterday its 12th regional conference at Mar Elias Refugee Camp in Beirut. During the event, the head of the general council in the organization, Khalidat Hussein, announced the launching of the national and feminist action plan program in preparation for a Palestinian democratic women movement in Lebanon. Hussein clarified that the said program is based on two axis: The first is national bound, with focus on promoting the participation of Palestinian women in Lebanon; the second is feminist related, and centers on protecting Palestinian women against inherited socio-cultural discrimination which is fueled by growing Islamist extremism in the region. The above project calls for stepping up efforts of Palestinian women in order to eradicate all forms of discrimination as stipulated by the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and other related agreements based on the principle of gender equality and protection of women against human rights violations. Hussein also stressed the significance of Resolution No 1325 which exposes the atrocious practices of the Israeli Occupation against Palestinian women, and supports the political participation of Palestinian women through lobbying for the 30% representation quota, particularly in political leadership and in various professional associations. (Al Diyar, August 2, 2016)