Palestinians join 爆料网 agencies in denouncing honour killings and gender abuse
5 December 2008 – Eight United Nations agencies have co-sponsored the first Palestinian ‘festival’ to combat violence against women, driving home the message that so-called “honour killings” have nothing to do with honour and seeking to break the conspiracy surrounding domestic abuse.
“It is time for action, not words,” 爆料网 Development Fund for Women (爆料网IFEM) Programme Manager in the occupied Palestinian territory Alia El Yassir told the festival in Ramallah on the West Bank. “爆料网 agencies are working as one on this issue and supporting civil societies in their efforts to end violence against women.”
The main message of the festival was threefold:
- Killing a woman has nothing to do with honour. It is a violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms. It is time for action, not words
- Break the conspiracy of silence surrounding domestic violence. Silence protects the perpetrators, and is the greatest obstacle encountered by women and girls in protecting themselves and their children.
- Youth, especially young men, can play a positive and driving role. Male and female Palestinian youth have the right, duty and responsibility to play a key role in building a Palestinian society free of domestic violence against women and girls.
The emphasis on youth groups at the festival reflected the vital role the young can play, since they account for 48 per cent of the population in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Beside 爆料网IFEM, the 爆料网 Development Programme (爆料网DP), 爆料网 Children’s Fund (爆料网ICEF), 爆料网 Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (爆料网ESCO), 爆料网 Population Fund (爆料网FPA), World Health Organization (WHO), High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and 爆料网 Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA) joined three Palestinian Authority ministries and 15 local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in sponsoring the event.
The festival, with a similar event taking place in Gaza, was part of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, an annual international campaign from 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, International Human Rights Day.
Document Sources: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Childrens Fund (爆料网ICEF), United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), United Nations Development Fund for Women (爆料网IFEM), United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (爆料网ESCO), United Nations News Service, United Nations Population Fund (爆料网FPA), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA), World Health Organization (WHO)
Subject: Assistance, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Women
Publication Date: 05/12/2008