Gender Based Violence in Occupied Palestinian Territory: A Case Study

The impetus for this case study arose in the “Advocacy for Reproductive Health” project, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and implemented by The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH), a non-governmental organization (NGO). The study is based on desk research and personal interviews conducted in July 2005 with representatives of government bodies, NGOs and the police force. This case study assesses the political, legal and socio-economic status of Palestinian women and discusses the extent to which gender-based violence is prevalent within Occupied Palestinian Territory. It examines institutional responses to gender-based violence at the governmental and non-governmental level; assesses the state of coordination among organizations working in the field; analyses the challenges, successes and lessons learned within the context of the political and socio-economic situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory; and offers recommendations for combating gender-based violence at national, regional and international levels. This case study was presented at the Consultative Meeting in Bucharest, Romania, 17-20 October 2005.