Women Speak Up -Side Event- 56th Session of the Human Rights Council

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Geneva, June 20, 2024 — The Women Speak Up event, hosted by Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD), highlighted the urgent need for accountability and justice for Palestinian women under occupation. Moderated by Rana Khalil, the event focused on resilience, resistance, and the unique challenges faced by Palestinian women in the current war.

 

Key Highlights:

Opening Remarks:

The event commenced with a warm welcome from the moderator Rana Khalil, who outlined the evening’s agenda and introduced the three distinguished speakers.

First Video Presentation:

The event started with a powerful video showcasing statistics about the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The video included a stark overview of the destruction and loss of life, setting a poignant tone for the discussions to follow.

Amal Khrieshe, Director- General of PWWSD:

Amal Khrieshe’s presentation focused on the resilience and resistance of Palestinian women amidst the aggression on the Gaza Strip. She emphasized that the roots of the current situation trace back to 1948 Nakba, with the events of October 7th, 2023, being a reaction to 75 years of oppression, denial of rights, and ethnic cleansing committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians.

Key highlights included:

  • Over than one million Palestinians have been arrested since 1967, including more than 20,000 women and girls.
  • Since October 7, 2023, approximately 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, two-thirds of whom were women and children.
  • The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure and profound violations of women’s rights, including sexual abuse and torture in prisons.

Ms. Khreishe called for immediate international action to hold Israeli occupation leaders accountable for the crimes a and support Palestinian women. She emphasized that the human security and the durable peace in the region and in the global are connected to  the security of the Palestinian people, therefore, it is time for UNSC to implement  all its resolutions to enable Palestinians to achieve their right to self-determination and establish Sovereignty State.

Zakria Ouda, Civil Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem:

Mr. Zakria Ouda discussed the Judaization of East Jerusalem following the events of October 7th, 2023. He highlighted the significant impact on the local Palestinian community, including displacement and the erosion of cultural and historical presence. Zakria stressed the need for increased international awareness and intervention.

Second Video Presentation:

The audience then watched a compelling video featuring testimonies from women who had been detained in the Israeli occupation prisons. The video highlighted severe human rights violations, providing a visceral context for the discussions.

Lara Ramadan, PWWSD:

Ms. Lara Ramadan provided insights into the Palestinian context from a feminist perspective. She discussed the unique challenges faced by Palestinian women, including systemic violence and marginalization. Ms. Ramadan emphasized the importance of integrating feminist perspectives into the broader struggle for Palestinian rights and called for global solidarity.

Audience Engagement:

The event saw active engagement from the audience, who asked insightful questions and expressed strong support for the speakers’ messages. Discussions included the role of the international community in supporting Palestinian women and the impact of global solidarity movements.

Conclusion:

The Women Speak Up event successfully highlighted the resilience of Palestinian women and the urgent need for accountability. The powerful presentations and videos underscored the severe human rights violations faced by Palestinian women and the necessity for immediate international action. The event concluded with a call to maintain and strengthen global solidarity efforts to ensure justice for Palestinian women and hold perpetrators accountable.

This event underscored the importance of continued advocacy and action to end the occupation and achieve justice for Palestinian women, reinforcing the necessity for global attention and support.