Pal-Think begins a series of awareness meetings on democracy and human rights

Within the project “Strengthening civil society's role in supporting the Palestinian elections”, implemented by Pal-Think for Strategic Studies with funding from the Government of Canada, Pal-Think began carrying out its awareness meetings within a series of activities and events carried out through the project. An intensive training programme had previously been carried out focusing on the issues of democracy and the skills of lobbying and advocacy, targeting a group of university students and graduates — who in turn now take part in carrying out all the project's activities, among them the awareness meetings aiming to contribute to raising the awareness of young men and women on democracy, political and communal participation, human and women's rights, and equality between the sexes.

The first of these meetings was carried out in cooperation with the Women's Studies Association: a group of youth carried out the meeting titled “Mechanisms of strengthening the political participation of the Palestinian woman”, with the attendance of a group of women and activists of civil society. The meeting was opened by Ms Sally al-Sammak, “the project coordinator”, who in turn welcomed the attendees and the hosting institution, affirming the importance of these meetings, which contribute fundamentally to strengthening the capacities of youth of both sexes on the issues of democracy, political participation, and human rights.

The meeting was led by the trainee Islam Zaghbar and the trainee Malik al-Jarou, who spoke during the meeting of the concept of political participation, making clear women's standing in Palestinian society and how the historical stages that passed over Palestinian society affected women's political participation. The lecturers likewise reviewed the historical development of the Palestinian woman's political participation and how this participation held a fundamental role in strengthening the principles of democracy.

The two trainees then moved to speaking of the elements of the Palestinian woman's participation, the obstacles and challenges facing women in political participation, the mechanisms of strengthening women's political participation, and the forms of women's practice of their political rights. Discussion ran with the attendees on the challenges that impede women's participation under the current conditions and the most important roles women can perform to face these challenges and prove their participation in society.

The two trainees expressed their happiness at taking part in carrying out these meetings, considering this a wonderful opportunity that enabled them to move from the role of receiver of information to the role of educator and lecturer — especially as this is their first experience in carrying out awareness meetings.

It is recalled that the project's activities comprise, in addition to these awareness meetings, a series of radio episodes and lobbying and advocacy campaigns, in addition to accountability sessions and debates — in order to contribute to finding a generation of youth that believes in the issues of democracy and human rights and works to spread and strengthen them in society.

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