On march 8th of every year the whole world celebrates the international women's day. This it self is a clear recognition of the international community of women's rights and their status in the community. Women are half of society and they raise up the other half. Denying any of the women basic rights is not a waste of energy, but it is also a limitation for the society momentum towards development.

Women have been historically neglected and limited to reproductive role in the family which resulted in deepening their feeling of isolation impotence and worthlessness.

This image has led to more gaps between women and man in the society who usually view her as source of problem and burden, not a full partner in family and society.

Violence against woman is still a very common phenomenon all over the world and in the Palestinian community. This is especially clear in the results of a research done by The Women Empowerment Project (WEP) of GCMHP on 120 ladies. The results showed that 62% of the research sample exposed to all different kinds of domestic violence. It was also found that 100% of the sample were exposed to oral violence and considered that normal behavior. Violence destroys women's energy and increases their social and psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. In another study on Palestinian women living in the refugee camps, it was found that 31.80% were suffering from depression and 21.92% suffering from anxiety.

We believe the psychological pressure upon woman does not hurt her only but is also reflected on her family and social surrounding, which at the end affect the whole society.

Palestinian woman is a special case since she suffers the double burden of resisting the occupation on one side and fighting ignorance and domestic suppression from within community on the other. Palestinian woman has always given the bright example of being a strong partner to man in both national and social fields. She shares suffering the Israeli aggression in, imprisonment, torture and bereavement.

The fifty four woman prisoners who are still behind bars are just an example of those who have passed this experience.

Today as we salute woman on her day we call upon the Palestinian community to show the support deserved for women's just cause. In this regard, we urge the Palestinian civil society organizations to support the efforts aiming to criminalize domestic violence against women which our Women Empowerment Project (WEP) carry out together with other women's groups. These efforts aim to draft a Palestinian law to criminalize violence within the family and limit its prevalence in the Palestinian community. All legal and social factors in the community are invited to work together to insure a modern and civilized legislation that support women political and social rights including accessibility to health facilities, education, equal opportunity in employment and participation in decision-making process.

We also call upon Palestinian women activists to take the initiative and join the competition for membership in the Palestinian legislative council elections. The Palestinian legislative council members are demanded to ratify the 20% qauta for women which we believe will be a positive step to encourage women participation in the political life.

Palestinian woman has along history of achievements which enables her to succeed in taking a leading role in the national, political and developmental fields.

All the support for women just cause.
Health Woman means health society.

Gaza Community Mental Health Program