Gaza – 2022: The Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza organized a conference on “Enhancing Access of Marginalized Women and Girls Survivors of Violence to Multi-Sectoral Services in the Gaza Strip.” The event brought together representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions, researchers, academics, media professionals, and activists. The conference was part of the project “Advocating for the Rights and Needs of Women and Girls Survivors of Violence within Humanitarian and Crisis Response in Gaza,” funded by Grassroots International.
In her opening remarks, Amal Syam, Director of the Women’s Affairs Center, highlighted the need for multi-sectoral services to help women and girls break free from the cycle of violence. She stressed that institutions must effectively express their role in providing such services and shed light on the challenges faced by women and girls in accessing them. She also pointed to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which exacerbate gender-based violence, particularly following the May 2021 escalation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing blockade.
Reem Al-Buheisi, Media Program Coordinator at the Center, underlined that the conference aimed to assess the humanitarian situation, examine gender-responsive humanitarian services during crises, and explore challenges and gaps faced by institutions, women, girls, and service providers. The discussions also focused on mainstreaming protection from gender-based violence into humanitarian response, in line with international humanitarian and human rights law.
The conference featured six working papers covering legal, health, psychological, social, and economic issues related to providing humanitarian services for women and girls during crises:
- Legal Services for Women and Girls During Emergencies – Presented by Suhair Al-Baba, lawyer at the Center’s Legal Clinic, who emphasized the urgent need for a Family Protection Law in Palestine and dedicated budgets to address violence against women.
- Health Services for Vulnerable Women and Survivors of Breast Cancer – Presented by Rufqa Al-Afifi, psychologist at Abdel Shafi Community Health Association, who shared best practices, including peer-support groups for breast cancer survivors to improve mental well-being.
- Reproductive Health Interventions During Humanitarian Crises – Presented by Somaya Al-Basous, supervisor of Al-Bureij Women’s Health Clinic, focusing on reproductive health continuity, preventive measures for service providers, and innovative remote counseling through phone and WhatsApp.
- Mental Health Services for Women and Children in Gaza – Presented by Mona Mousa, case manager at Aisha Association, highlighting interventions, challenges, and the need for sustainable psychosocial support during emergencies.
- Economic Empowerment and Women’s Resilience – Presented by Reem Al-Nirab, Economic Empowerment Program Coordinator at the Women’s Affairs Center, stressing the importance of policies and incentives to strengthen small women-led businesses, including tax exemptions and market access support.
- Shelter Services During Humanitarian Crises – Presented by Abeer Al-Mashharawi, case manager at Hayat Center for Women and Family Protection, shedding light on shelter services in Gaza, the targeted groups, interventions during emergencies, and major challenges in service provision.
The conference concluded with a strong call for collective efforts to ensure comprehensive, gender-sensitive, and multi-sectoral services that uphold the dignity, rights, and resilience of women and girls in Gaza during crises.