Hebron – The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD) opened a new office in Dura, Hebron in the southern West Bank.
PWWSD Bethlehem coordinator, Wujdan Azzeh started the opening by highlighting the historical stages of the organization’s work. Since it was founded in 1981 as an independent women’s organization, PWWSD has worked to empower women, paving the feminist Palestinian path intersecting with national, political, social, and democratic movements.
Azzeh added that PWWSD works tirelessly to affirm women’s rights as human rights, and it believes in women’s issues as part of the overall political and social struggle. The organization believes that economic, social, and democratic independence and progress cannot be achieved without a political will for social justice and equality for all citizens, eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, and internalizing gender equality.
Azzeh noted that PWWSD operates through three main programs: Empowering Women in the Decision-Making Process, Psychological and Social Counseling, and Capacity Building.
PWWSD social worker, Maysa Mhesen gave a presentation on the organization’s programs, focusing on the women’s empowerment program aiming to raise women’s awareness of their political, civil, and legal rights, as well as enabling them to advocate for their rights, and empowering them economically and politically in all aspects of life.
Mhesen talked about the organization’s educational activities, including lectures and workshops for women and youth, as well as research and study circles, in addition to exchanging experiences among women locally, regionally, and internationally. PWWSD also provides training courses to enrich women’s knowledge and change women’s stereotypically-gendered image by developing women’s leadership.
The mayor of Dura, Sameer Namoora expressed the municipality’s ongoing willingness to cooperate with all segments of society. In particular, marginalized groups including women, youth, seniors, children, and people with disability. Namoora said that the municipality is ready to provide as much continuous support to PWWSD as possible, offering the municipal hall and cultural center as venues for the organization to hold its activities. He also proposed to provide consultation and assistance to PWWSD to facilitate its work in reaching its target goals.