Although violence against women is prevalent throughout the Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip, domestic violence in particular appears to be rampant. The reason for this lies in the unique history and development of the Gaza Strip society. Violence against women appears to take a specific form as it combines the economic, political and cultural aspects. The subjugation of women within the family and its extension to the public, is expressed in various forms of discrimination: discriminatory paid wages, unfair awarding of promotion, unequal education, limited opportunities to participate in cultural and political activities, and many others. While men perform all these discriminatory practices against women, they often find legitimization through the legal, religious and political structures, and the media often further reinforces this. The subordination of women in the public sphere is often reflected on the domestic status as well. Gender stereotypes in the public, political, economic and educational spheres reinforce existing norms about subordination of women and legitimize their control by male members.

Palestinian women seem to suffer compounded forms of violence. Over 30 years of Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has left Palestinians in general, and women in particular, in a state of disarray. The constant state of uncertainty and fear, combined with an un-preparedness for new roles and responsibilities, have placed considerable pressure on Palestinian women. They are made to assume a major part of the domestic and economic responsibilities in order to maximize the minimum economic and physical resources available to their families. It is survival at a subsistence level. An increase in the incidence of domestic violence especially against women and children, is a direct result. This phenomenon has been commonly reported in many families of released detainees. In such a situation where released prisoners are faced with the current political, economical, and social situation; they find it difficult to adjust. Also, women released from jail have experienced difficulty in reintegrating into mainstream life and culture. In addition, having a family member accused of collaboration affects the psychological wellbeing of all family members. The majority of women who access the WEP centers have experienced personal trauma, dysfunctional family life and social disruption. Despite the recognized benefits already achieved within the society, there is still a heavily stigmatized approach to mental health in the local culture, with a corresponding reluctance by needy persons and their families to utilize such services. As the management of socially and economically depressed groups include personal analysis and behavioral modification, the WEP, as part of the broader Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP), is ideally placed to give access to counseling and professional referral system.

Empowering women necessitates identifying the most pressing of community and personal needs through domestic skills enhancement, peer recognition, economic independence, and issue specific networking. In addition to some governmental services, there are several relief and rehabilitation programs that have addressed the material needs of female victims of violence resulting from political, and socio-economic unrest in Gaza. The main goal of these organizations is to alleviate poverty in the Palestinian Territories. For women in particular, the psychological after-effects of suffering and violence have not been addressed.

The WEP seeks to address the psychological needs of female victims of violence through individual, group, and family psychotherapy sessions. Through its various components, the project works towards helping women victims to manage their psychological problems. The community approach, which focuses on counseling, training and education, is used. Women first receive the service and then act as front-line workers and community services providers, thereby applying their knowledge to help others in need.

The project focuses on a training of trainers approach, which is considered the most politically appropriate and culturally acceptable process. Such an approach will enable the beneficiaries to take ownership of the process, and from their part in that process, their own ideas about development will emerge. Alternative processes would either exclude the women from being identified as in need, or might possibly only result in a marginal increase in an already low standard of living.