Women`s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling Palestine

WCLAC is a Palestinian feminist non-governmental organization that works to protect and promote women`s human rights within the framework of international human rights mechanisms and standards. This should be done through monitoring, documentation and advocacy at the local and international levels; provide social and legal services to women victims of violence and to women whose human rights have been violated; implement awareness-raising, advocacy, training and legal reform programmes that ensure gender equality; Develop the capacity of grassroots organizations and volunteer groups within an effective organization that works in a complementary manner through the various program/administrative units and regional offices, whose specialized and highly qualified staff are committed to the vision and mission of the Centre. From 2009 to 2012, WCLAC developed a national protocol referral framework to support service providers who are women victims of violence to help them navigate public and civil social, legal, and health services in the West Bank. WCLAC`s Women`s Voices project trains field workers to research the gender impact of human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank (a vast source of testimonies and legal analysis is available in the Women`s Voices section of the WCLAC website). With the COVID-19 outbreak, WCLAC has expanded its hotline, referral services, and kept its shelter open to deal with the sudden increase in domestic violence. It has also conducted media campaigns to prevent violence against women. Aisha, 50, a mother and grandmother, divorced her wealthy husband because he wanted a younger wife. The governor and the police decided that she had to leave her home because she was registered in her husband`s name. The compensation granted by law was not sufficient to survive.

She came to WCLAC, which shamed her husband and fought for his justice. The Women`s Centre for Legal Aid and Legal Advice is committed to reversing discrimination against Palestinian women and promoting their social and legal rights in accordance with international human rights standards. The Women`s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) is an independent Palestinian non-governmental non-profit organization committed to the development of a democratic Palestinian society based on the principles of gender equality and social justice. Founded in Jerusalem in 1991, the organization has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). By developing a feminist vision based on equality and social justice, WCLAC plays a leading role in addressing gender-based violence in Palestinian society, both in the public and private spheres. WCLAC aims to address the causes and consequences of gender-based violence within the Palestinian community, as well as the gender impact of the increasing militarization associated with the Israeli occupation. To this end, WCLAC acts not only to reverse historical neglect, negative cultural heritage and discriminatory social attitudes towards Palestinian women, but also to address the needs of women who have been victims of Israel`s violent actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). As the leading advocate for women`s rights in Palestine, WCLAC prides itself on its uncompromising commitment to providing legal aid, social counseling and protection services to women in an environment where human rights violations are endemic and women`s issues are regularly neglected.

Financial supporters and international project partners WCLAC maintains close relationships with the following financial supporters and international project partners (2014): OXFAM-NOVIB (Netherlands Organisation for International Development) The representative office of Norway Dan Church Aid Middle East Bread for the World – WCLAC Protestant Development Internships recognizes that volunteers, interns and professionals who wish to work in Palestine provide valuable Palestinian women to be able to provide support. Fight for justice, empowerment and self-determination. On occasion, WCLAC is able to host volunteers, interns and professionals. We are accepting applications Prizes and memberships Special consultative status of the Economic and Social Council of ECOSOC In 2005, WCLAC was granted special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and recognized it as an international promoter of human rights with a consolidated position in Palestinian and global civil society. This consultative status accredits the structure of WCLAC The WCLAC Board of Directors is elected annually by the members of the WCLAC General Assembly, which meets regularly. The organization`s executive direction is headed by WCLAC Director General Maha Abu Dayyeh with the assistance of a Program Director and a WCLAC Director. The Women`s Center for Legal Aid and Legal Advice (WCLAC) was founded in Jerusalem in 1991 as an independent, non-profit, non-governmental Palestinian organization that aims to contribute to the development of a democratic Palestinian society based on the principles of equality and social justice between the two decades, the Center`s work has highlighted the need to eliminate discrimination and violence against women in the country. Palestinian society. and the need to support the national struggle for freedom and independence from Israeli occupation. For WCLAC, these two issues are crucial and even interrelated. The prolonged military occupation of Palestinian land restricts women`s security, independence and self-determination and blocks women`s citizenship in a Palestinian nation-state.

In addition, national resistance to occupation can be a limiting factor in women`s development, as it treats women`s needs as secondary. WCLAC`s vision is to see empowered women live in a just and equal Palestinian society where they all enjoy their human rights. «Dar Makhlouf» – WCLAC`s Bethlehem office in Beit Jala Maha Abu-Dayyeh and the organization have received numerous international human rights and leadership awards. WCLAC is a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, SALMA Network (focusing on violence against women), AISHA Network (mainly secular feminist groups in the Middle East and North Africa), Council of Palestinian Human Rights Networks and NGO Forum on Violence against Women. Randa Siniora, a Palestinian human rights and women`s rights defender, is Executive Director of the Women`s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling. The University of Essex lawyer has been documenting violations of women`s rights in Palestine for more than three decades and has experience in human rights and international humanitarian law. Randa played a leading role in the Palestinian coalition for UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and was instrumental in the development of the 1325 National Action Plan in Palestine.