In Gaza, CARE WBG is Raising Awareness About Gender Based Violence 24 January 2007. Deena Anqar from Gaza City is only 23 years old. Despite her young age, she shows real courage - Deena is a Coordinator for training on gender based violence. “We plan community meetings and follow-up on recommendations. Sometimes women who suffer violence ask me for help” said Deena. “At first I could not believe how much gender based violence there is in our society.” In the Gaza Strip, CARE is working with an alliance of three NGOs working on a voluntary basis on gender based violence. The alliance consists of the General Union of Palestinian Women, the Women’s Unit in the Central Reconciliation Committee, UNRWA’s women activity centers in 15 refugee camps, and the Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution. The Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution, Gaza, contacted other NGOs and asked them to form a coalition. The NGOs agreed and their members have been mobilized to work on the campaign as volunteers. The coalition has been working to raise awareness among men and women regarding gender based violence and how women can protect themselves under the law. Together, the coalition is trying to change cultural traditions and certain attitudes and explain the importance of respect for women as an integral part of a strong family and community. The Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution, in Gaza City, is serving as the focal point for the initiative. Currently, 35 women are working as community trainers in the field of advocacy campaign management, communication skills, societal mobilization, and report writing. The Center is working with CARE’s program for Civil Society and Democracy Strengthening to conduct 25 workshops that raise awareness on gender based violence. However, because of the tremendous need, 101 workshops were conducted in rural areas and marginalized locations in the Gaza Strip. More and more women, previously unable to speak about their experiences, are attending the workshops. For CARE West Bank and Gaza, top priority is given to reaching women that do not have access to such programs. Counseling is also offered as follow-up after the workshops are conducted. The Center is providing legal assistance to women in addition to psychosocial counseling. With CARE, the partner NGOs are raising awareness among women regarding violence, and are empowering women so they can lobby local decision makers. A song was prepared as part of the campaign against gender based violence and will be aired through radio stations in the Gaza Strip. The song was made into a video clip and will be aired on television as well. Posters were prepared and posted on nine billboards in strategic locations throughout Gaza City and in southern parts of the Gaza Strip. The posters have slogans such as “Yes to a Future Without Violence,” and “Women Have an Integral Role to Play in Society,” meaning that woman are the ones who raise children and therefore they have a significant impact on the future of the community. Twelve small billboards with the same messages were posted in Gaza City. The program addressing gender based violence is making positive changes in society and in the lives of women. Today, more women are coming to the Center, and they are speaking up and demanding safe living conditions. In order to meet the tremendous demand, the Center asked the women trainers to work as volunteers because funds are not available to meet the need in Gaza. The trainers agreed and have been eager to help. According to Abdel-Moeen Tahrawy, the Center’s Program Coordinator, “The initiative is successful, and we managed to begin a debate about the issues in a conservative society. Unfortunately, only one month is left before we have to stop the program because funding will end, but this is happening while the local community is asking us for more workshops. Men are attending the workshops and this is unprecedented.” In the words of Hayat Basal, trainer from Al-Sahti’ Refugee Camp: “I like my work because women are the basis for a good society. If women are safe from violence, then society in general will be on the right path, and women will raise their children in safety and security. I know that my work is difficult, but I like social work. I am a woman, and I feel I have to do my share and to contribute to the development of Palestinian society, so women can be partners in the process of development.” Despite the tremendous sense of determination and the incredible achievements of the initiative there are many women in the Gaza Strip who remain silent. According to Tahrawy, 23 women were murdered because of inheritance disputes; a young woman had acid water spilled on her face, by her own father, because she refused to leave her fiancé; and forced marriages remain a rampant problem. Addressing gender based violence is important for building a strong Palestinian society. Click Here to See the Video Clip and Listen to the Song on Gender Based Violence For More Information, Please Contact: Jawad Abu Harb. Senior Capacity Building and Grants Officer with CARE on the Civil Society and Democracy Strengthening Project, Gaza City