Gaza- The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD) conducted a workshop at the Palestinian Child’s Friends Association in Rafah, Gaza Strip titled “Election Law and Women’s Role in Political Participation”. This workshop targeting youth leaders comes as part of the Shadow Council and Elections project in the Gaza Strip, funded by the Swedish Centre Party International Foundation CIS. Project Coordinator, Yaseen Abu-Odeh talked about the importance of strengthening women’s role in political participation, candidacy, women’s quota, election stages, and activating women’s role in reaching decision-making positions.
Abu-Odeh mentioned the role of Palestinian women in leading the national struggle, affirming women’s right to participate in political life as an essential tool for progress and advancing women in Palestinian society, as well as exchanging experiences and lessons learned among women to build a lobbying and advocacy movement for women to practice their rights based on equality and justice.
Head of Rafah Shadow Council, Awatef Ehleil talked about the role of shadow councils in getting women to decision-making positions, adding that she will work tirelessly to serve her community. She highlighted the shadow council meetings with the Rafah Municipality, and the recommendations reached by the council and the head of the Municipality.
Ehleil also encouraged women in shadow councils to run for the October 8 local elections.
The workshops held to form a shadow council in Rafah are the first of their kind, as PWWSD works to expand the shadow council initiative from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.