Handing over a “Statement of the Men’s Alliance’s stand to eliminate Gender-Based Violence” to the Minister of Women’s Affairs and the Minister of Justice

Roles for Social Change Association-ADWAR conducted a “Roundtable Discussion with decision-makers”, on Sunday 04/09/2022 at Al-Bireh Municipality Park’s Hall in Ramallah, to have a discussion between decision-makers and members of the Men’s Alliance about the status of rights in Palestine, and to influence decision-makers in the Palestinian government to work on adopting laws that protect the Palestinian family from violence. In addition, the discussion aimed at facilitating procedures that protect women from gender-based violence and presenting a “Statement of the Men’s Alliance’s stand to eliminate Gender-Based Violence,” signed by all members of the Men’s Alliance.

The discussion was in the presence of decision-makers in the Palestinian government, Her Excellency the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Dr. Amal Hamad, and His Excellency the Minister of Justice, Dr. Muhammad Al-Shalaldeh, in addition to a member of the Men’s Alliance, Eslam Dabank, and other members of the Men’s Alliance, along with many active citizens.

The facilitator of the meeting, Dr. Bashar Farahat started the discussion by welcoming the audience, and asking questions to Her Excellency the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Dr. Amal Hamad, about reasons behind lack of the Palestinian government’s respons to the demands of the Palestinian feminist movement to adopt the Law on the Protection of the Family from Violence, despite the many demands they received. Then, questions were directed to His Excellency the Palestinian Minister of Justice, Dr. Muhammad Al-Shalaldeh about the status of laws in Palestine and the reasons behind the increase in violence and crime in general recently.

In addition, the Director General of ADWAR Association, Dr. Sahar Yousef Al-Qawasmeh, illustrated the importance of establishing a Men’s Alliance to play an influential role socially and politically to reduce gender-based violence. Moreover, a member of the Men’s Alliance, Mr. Eslam Dabank, gave a speech about the vision of the members of the Men’s Alliance and its role in reducing gender-based violence socially.

The discussion concluded with an open and argumentative dialogue between members of the Men’s Alliance and decision-makers, that most importantly, resulted in handing over the “Statement of the Men’s Alliance’s stand to eliminate Gender-Based Violence” to the Ministers, recommending them to take Legal measures that protect women from violence, in addition to developing plans for both ministries to inform the Palestinian community about the future tools intended to be taken to reduce gender-based violence.

This discussion comes within the project “We Men Are Your Allies 2” in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund and in partnership with the Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association through the joint Hayat program funded by the Government of Canada.