by Saed Bannoura - IMEMCThe Al Haq Institute, a human rights
center based in Palestine, issued a
statement marking International
Womens' Day yesterday, stating that
Palestinian women are subjected to
continual abuse of their basic human
rights by the 40-year old
Israeli occupation.
The Institute added that Palestinian women are also
denied their basic rights and protection within Palestinian
society. Additionally, it was stated that Israel continuing
occupation of Palestine, including East Jerusalem.
They note that the siege and military assault on the
Gaza Strip is one of the main examples of Israeli policy
of collective punishment of civilians. Collective punishment
is in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions and
International Law.
Ongoing restrictions of movement, the Annexation Wall,
settler-only roads, and more than 500 military roadblocks
are restricting the movement of the residents, according to
the Institute, preventing access to education, employment,
and medical care. The Institute also stated that several
Palestinian women were forced to give birth at Israeli
roadblocks due to the Israel's policy of closures and siege
in the Occupied Territories.
“Palestinian women and girls are, along with the rest of the
Palestinian population, regularly subjected to harassment,
intimidation, and ill-treatment at Israeli checkpoints
scattered throughout the West Bank, including around
East Jerusalem”, the Al Haq Institute stated,
“Such treatment constitutes as an assault on their dignity
and security of person in violation of both international
human rights and humanitarian law. Palestinian women
and girls have also not escaped the violent consequences
of Israel’s repeated military incursions and attacks in the
Occupied Territories”.
The Al Haq Institute added, since last International
Womens' Day, 24 Palestinian women were killed by the
Israeli army, among them were five children. The
Israeli army killed 288 women, including 105 children,
since the beginning of the second Intifada in late
September 2000.
“These killings amount to grave breaches of the Fourth
Geneva Convention, mandating individual criminal
responsibility,” accodring to the Institute. They call for
the protection of Palestinian women under all
circumstances, and for the enforcement equal rights
for all civilians without exceptions.
The Al Haq Institute also expressed grave concern
regarding the issue of “honor killings,” which has
become known as “femocide,” and added that the lack
of law enforcement and pressure within the community
enables all forms of violence against women.
The Institute outlined a list of recommendations as follows:
- for the international community to compel Israel
to immediately cease all acts that violate the
fundamental rights and protections guaranteed to
women and girls under international human rights
and humanitarian law.
- for the international community, in accordance
with Article 146 of the Fourth Geneva Convention,
to prosecute individuals who have committed,
ordered or knowingly failed to prevent, the willful
killing of Palestinian women and girls.
- for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)
to ensure that all legislation contains provisions for
the protection and promotion of the equality and
fundamental rights of women and girls.
- for the PNA to adopt thorough and effective law
enforcement and judicial procedures, to investigate,
prosecute and punish individuals found to have
committed acts of harassment, violence and/or
femicide against women or girls.
- for the PNA to issue an unconditional formal
declaration that it will adhere to all the provisions
of the International Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and
be held accountable for breaches thereof.
and the international community to comply with the
provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on
Women, Peace and Security.
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