JERUSALEM, March 9, 2010(WAFA)- On the occasion of international women's day the European Union (EU) adopted a plan of action on gender equality and women's empowerment.
The (EU) adopted a Plan of Action on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. In the occupied Palestinian territory, EU-funded actions in a favor of Palestinian women are currently implemented for a total amount of over 6 million euro.
The EU has a long-standing commitment to promote gender equality; already in 1995, it played a leadership role at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Since then, the EU has sought actively to integrate the priorities and needs of women and men in all its key policies, notably in external assistance. Annually almost 35% of the European Commission's development aid is spent on projects that have a gender dimension. The forthcoming EU Action Plan will contribute to strengthening the coordination of activities in this field by EU institutions and individual EU Member States.
In the Mediterranean region, the main policy instrument to strengthen gender equality has been the 'Istanbul Process', launched in 2006 by the Ministers from the EU and our Mediterranean partner countries. Great efforts have been made since then by all partner governments to promote the contribution of women to society at all levels, with the support of the EU through its regional programs.
In the occupied Palestinian territory, the EU is supporting Palestinian women through civil society organizations in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. The current portfolio of 10 projects, totaling more than 6 million euro, includes the following initiatives:
Supporting women victims of violence through the establishment of an integrated service system (Women's Centre for Legal Acid and Counseling) and awareness raising against violence in schools and communities (Women's Studies Center Association);
The promotion of specific rights such as inheritance and property rights (Dan Church Aid), labour rights or access to justice for poor women (Musawa);
The capacity building of women grassroots organizations and media professionals (Care International UK and Bunian Association for Training, Evaluation and Studies);
The dissemination of information on specific healthcare issues (German Red Cross and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society) and the provision of reproductive health services (Association Italian Donne per lo Sviluppo).
Income generation for vulnerable women in the north of Gaza (Al Najda Social Association); Women as actors in peace building in the OPT, Israel and Jordan (Psycho-Social Counseling Centre for Women Association).
Christian Berger, the European Union Representative in Jerusalem, reiterated EU commitment to the equality, freedom, and advancement of Palestinian women. 'There is still a lot of a work that remains to be done on the issue of gender equality here as well as in other parts of the world.' Mr. Berger added. 'Our projects, implemented by or in partnership with Palestinian organizations, contribute to improving the lives of Palestinian women affected not only by social and legal structures but also by the on-going socio-economic crisis and the consequences of the long-lasting conflict in the region.'
