A statement for immediate release
Issued by Human Rights & Democracy Media Center ”SHAMS”
On the occasion of the 8th OF March “International Women’s Day“.
The center welcomes the woman’s supporting decisions issued by the Council of Ministers
SHAMS center strongly condemns the inhuman immoral excesses and violations practiced by the Israeli soldiers and settlers against Palestinian women. The center also calls the UN for assuming its responsibility to stop the occupation’s measures which have caused deterioration in the status of human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In addition to unemployment, poverty and health problems. Palestinian women have suffered the most due to such conditions, while their suffering has been neglected by international foundations. It is worth noting that the nonstop Israeli violations have resulted in severe consequences on the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. And the effect was much negatives especially upon the Palestinian women causing additional pressure and restrictions against them.
Israel should abide the by the International Human Rights Law, particularly human rights conventions in which “Israel” is a member within it. With emphasis on “CEDAW” as well as International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and International Convenant on Political and Civil Rights to end all form of ethnic discrimination. In fact, Israel denies applying UN human rights conventions which have been ratified in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and refused to apply Geneva Fourth Convention.
SHAMS center assures that in light of the Israeli disrespect for legal obligations to the Palestinian people, international community and related entities put emphasis on the need to enforce the Geneva Fourth Convention and international conventions on human rights over and over again. In regard to International Human Rights Law, it is well recognized that Israel as an occupying state is legally responsible for enforcing human rights conventions in which it is a part, in the occupied territories. Given that preventing family violence besides respecting and protecting woman’s right to live safely without being subject to gender-based violence, all represent contracting obligations in combating gender-based discrimination.
SHAMS center welcomes the decisions taken by the Palestinian Council of Ministers, headed by the placement, through the abolition of article 308 of the Penal Code No. 16 of 1960 applicable in the West Bank. The treatment of rape in this Penal Code allows rapists to escape punishment if they agree to marry their victim. And the placement to amend article 99 of the Penal Code cannot be used to provide mitigating circumstances to crimes committed in the name of “honor”. The center considers these measures which are in fact long-awaited contribute to eliminating some forms of discrimination and injustice against Palestinian woman.
Moreover, the center puts emphasis that is necessary to take additional actions in this regard for the purpose of achieving equality between men & women. According to CEDAW that Palestine has acceded to in 2014 without reservations. The center calls the Council of Ministers to taking and enforcing extra policies, actions and measures aiming to strengthen equality between men & women in all fields, and eliminating impediments against it. By virtue of Palestinian Basic Law, Declaration of Independence and Palestine’s efforts exerted to accede to international conventions and treaties on human rights.
“END”