“It is time for action, not words,” UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Program Manager in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Alia' Al-Yassir said in the inaugural speech of the festival held, Thursday, in Ramallah. “UN 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 honor, it is a violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, and it is time for action, not words. The festival aimed at 'breaking the conspiracy of silence surrounding domestic violence,' because silence protects the perpetrators, and is the greatest obstacle encountered by women and girls in protecting themselves and their children.
Another message conveyed by the festival was that, 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 UNIFEM, the UN Development Program (UNDP), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), World Health Organization (WHO), High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) 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
