THE BASQUE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS WOMEN IN GAZA
31 October 2014
The Basque Government is supporting women in Gaza through the programme ‘Empowerment strategies to reduce vulnerability of refugee women’. Implemented by UNRWA, the programme will address the vulnerabilities faced by women, including those due to the Israeli blockade on Gaza and the traditionally patriarchal society.
The programme will focus on gender perspectives in health, economic empowerment and human rights. Over 70,600 people will participate, including more than 38,800 women and 31,800 men.
The programme will also include awareness activities in Spain about the situation and rights of refugee women. An anticipated 7,740 people will visit exhibitions and participate in roundtables in cities and towns across Basque Country, which will help raise awareness among Spanish society about the situation of refugee women in Gaza.
The Basque Government support for the 12-month programme totals almost EUR 600,000 (US$ 776,000).
There are four expected outcomes from the programme:
- Guaranteeing women’s sexual and reproductive rights, and introducing a gender-based violence protection system;
- The creation of work and education opportunities for women with academic qualifications, but limited knowledge on how to deal with workforce demands;
- The promotion of women’s rights and the generation of resilience through coping mechanisms. This includes community mental health support and human rights empowerment;
- New awareness within the Basque society about the history of women in Gaza from a human rights and gender perspective.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.
Financial support to UNRWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting UNRWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently the deficit stands at US$ 56 million.
For more information, please contact:
Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile:
+972 (0)54 240 2659
Office:
+972 (0)2 589 0267
Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile:
+972 (0)54 216 8295
Office:
+972 (0)2 589 0724
Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Country: Spain
Subject: Access and movement, Armed conflict, Assistance, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Economic issues, Education and culture, Gaza Strip, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Population, Protection, Refugee camps, Refugees and displaced persons, Social issues
Publication Date: 31/10/2014