Gaza – August 2, 2022
The Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza organized a conference titled “Enhancing Access for Marginalized Women and Girls and Survivors of Violence to Multi-Sector Services in Gaza”, attended by representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations, 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 Projects and Crisis Response in Gaza”, funded by Grassroots International.
Ms. Amal Siam, Director of the Center, highlighted that the conference aimed to share the experiences of women’s and civil society organizations in providing multi-sector services for women and girls, emphasizing that such services are crucial for helping women break the cycle of violence, especially given the ongoing challenges in Gaza following the May 2021 assault, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the continued blockade.
Ms. Reem Al-Bahaisi, Media Program Coordinator at the Center, noted that the conference aimed to assess the humanitarian situation and analyze crisis response services for vulnerable populations, identifying the challenges and gaps faced by women, girls, and service providers in accessing multi-sector, gender-responsive services.
The conference featured six working papers covering legal, health, psychological, and social aspects:
- Legal Services for Women and Girls During Crises – Presented by Ms. Suhair Al-Baba, lawyer at the Center’s Legal Clinic, highlighting the clinic’s objectives, challenges, and recommendations for family protection laws and economic opportunities for widowed and divorced women.
- Health Services for Vulnerable Women and Breast Cancer Survivors – Presented by Ms. Rufa Al-Afifi from Abdel Shafi Health and Community Association, discussing the role of peer support groups and best practices in providing healthcare to children and women in need.
- Reproductive Health Interventions for Women and Girls During Crises – Presented by Ms. Somaya Al-Bassous from the Free Culture and Idea Association, emphasizing preventive measures to ensure continuity of services for pregnant women through remote communication.
- Mental Health Services for Women and Children in Gaza – Presented by Ms. Mona Mousa, Case Manager at Ayesha Association, discussing mental health interventions and the challenges faced by staff in providing services during crises.
- Economic Empowerment and Its Role in Enhancing Resilience of Women and Girls – Presented by Ms. Reem Al-Nairb, Coordinator of the Economic Empowerment Program at the Center, reviewing services, challenges, and recommendations for supporting women-led small businesses.
- Shelter Services During Humanitarian Crises in Gaza – Presented by Ms. Abeer Al-Mashharawi from Hayat Center, outlining target groups, interventions, and challenges faced by shelters during emergencies.
The conference emphasized the importance of coordination among organizations and the development of multi-sector services to ensure that marginalized women, girls, and survivors of violence have access to legal, health, psychological, economic, and shelter support during crises.