PALESTINE
Palestine launched its first WPS NAP in 2015; this was updated in 2017 to cover the period 2017-2019. Palestine’s current NAP is for the period 2020-2024.
Objectives of the 2020-2024 NAP:
The 2020-2024 NAP has four pillars of focus, each of which is supported by two intended outcomes, as follows:
1 Prevention and Protection:
- Promotion of women’s and girls’ participation in conflict prevention, including in response to the impact of the occupation and all forms of gender-based and sexual violence on their lives.
- Women and girls have access to protection services against all forms of gender-based violence, especially those resulting from the occupation practices.
2 Accountability:
- Increased availability of periodic, high-quality data, information and statistics on the implementation of Resolution 1325.
- International and regional support is mobilised to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for its violations of Palestinian women’s rights.
3 Participation:
- Palestinian women lead and participate in formal and informal peace and decision-making bodies and processes.
- The security sector institutions mainstream gender and promote women’s meaningful leadership and participation at all levels.
4 Recovery & Relief:
- Emergency/humanitarian response and early recovery plans and architecture are gender-responsive and address the needs and priorities of women and men.
- Women most affected by occupation and conflict are more resilient and have access to economic recovery and multi-sectoral services.
Commentary:
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world’s longest-running conflicts and has left women and girls vulnerable and facing incremental discrimination and violence. The NAP states it is aimed at protecting Palestinian women and girls from violations of the Israeli occupation, holding it accountable internationally. It aims to ensure the participation of women without discrimination both locally and on the international stage, and develop protection mechanisms for Palestinian women and girls against the violations of the Israeli occupation. It also seeks to increase the participation of women in peacemaking and conflict resolution at all levels, integrate their points of view in peace and reconciliation agreements, and address the impact of conflict on women. Despite the challenges they face, women in Palestine have been actively involved in peacebuilding efforts. However, their contributions are not always fully recognized or included in formal peace processes.
Civil Society:
The UNSCR 1325 National Civil Society Coalition led by the General Union of Palestinian Women were particularly thanked for their assistance in the development of the NAP. They were specifically helpful in undertaking the costing process. The NAP will be in part implemented by the Feminist Civil Society Coalition as well as civil society organisations in the West Bank.
UN Peacekeeping Statistics
At September 2023 Palestine was not contributing and personnel to UN peacekeeping missions.
Women in Peacekeeping:
The NAP aims to address an increase in female representation at all levels of the peace-making process. The NAP suggests that it is supportive of Palestinian women’s participation in human rights treaty bodies and in UN peacekeeping operations, though there is no direct mention of the recruitment or deployment of women on UN missions.
References and sources:
Palestine WPS NAP: Palestine-NAP-3-2020-2024.pdf (wpsnaps.org)
Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country, Mission, and Personnel Type (Sept 2023): 05-Missions Detailed By Country
