The Palestinians of the Gaza Strip have endured decades of multiple traumas against a background of chronic social and political stress. Despite the resulting high incidence of mental illness, especially amongst women and children, virtually no mental health services exist in Gaza or the West Bank.

The Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP), was established in 1990. It has been the principal provider of community based, preventive and therapeutic care for the population. From the beginning, it chose to pioneer a community model and avoid institutional care, focusing on three important groups: victims of human rights violations, women and children.

GCMHP is an independent, non-governmental organization, which is registered with the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior as a non-profit company in 1995.

One major project of the GCMHP is the Women's Empowerment Project (WEP). The first Women's Empowerment Project was established in 1995 in Gaza City. The goal of this project is to help women affected by violence, and to offer rehabilitation, education, training, and health services. In May 1997 a second center was established in Rafah to serve women in the southern area of the Strip. A third center was established in Beach Camp in November 1997. Another center in the middle camps area was established by the 1st of September 2000.