2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Gaza and West Bank
In 2019, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) conducted the
latest survey on violence,86 according to which, 29% (married or previously
married) women in Gaza between the ages of 18-64 experienced violence
in the 12 months preceding the survey. 87 he main coping mechanism
remains keeping silent. Better disaggregated data is needed on women and
girls with disabilities who are often more vulnerable and at a higher risk of
being exposed to all forms of GBV.
When it comes to femicide, there are no official statistics on the prevalence
and the issue is vastly underreported. However, femicide is increasing. 88
Recent annual reports by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on
the situation in the oPt, reports that leniency and biased judicial practice
contributes to social acceptance of crimes of femicides. 89
Ongoing violence in Gaza, has had a negative impact on caregivers' ability
to meet basic needs of the family, which may lead to GBV, including intimate
partner violence and violence against children.⁹0 Forced internal
displacement of people further increases the threat of GBV as women and
girls outside of their homes are more vulnerable.
A study undertaken by UNFPA in 2019 showed that women and girls with
disabilities are the most vulnerable to all kinds of violence and higher levels
of marginalization.91 Their vulnerability is heightened by limited awareness,
low educational attainment and educational exclusion, lack of resources
and dependence on others, who may lack adequate support or resources
themselves.
% of women in Gaza currently married or ever married (18-64 years) who experienced at
least one a form of violence by their husbands in the 12 months preceding the survey (2019)
Psychological violence
64%
Economic violence
55%
Social violence
47%
Physical violence
26%
Sexual violence Cyber
11%
Violence
(by
others)
5%
According to a rapid needs assessment by UNFPA, an estimated 10% of
women and girls suffer long term disabilities since the May 2021 conflict.
Furthermore, 101 women were widowed. An estimated 17,700 women and
girls were internally displaced and exposed to increased GBV risks and
psychological violence during the escalation the following weeks 92. There
has been a rise in calls related to GBV incidents and three gender related
killings were reported in the span of one month directly following the end
of the escalation. Women and girls with disabilities are particularly
vulnerable and at risk from all forms of violence and abuse, including sexual
assault.93
Furthermore, women who lack or are denied access to legal and social
protection services (such as shelters) include those who are already
vulnerable such as women with disabilities, women accused of murder or
other offences, or those who have involvement with drugs, selling sex or
collaboration with Israeli authorities.94 For women LGBTIQ, access is not
86 PCBS (2019), Preliminary results of the violence survey in the Palestinian Society.
87 However, methodological flaws in the PCBS survey have been identified which do not allow for a
reliable comparison. Moreover, the survey does not include child, early and forced marriage as a
form of GBV
88 WCLAC, "Parallel Follow-up Report Prepared by the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counselling
(WCLAC) and the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Forum to Combat Violence Against
Women (Al Muntada)", 2020, p. 6
89 A/HRC/46/63, para. 32
90 Terre des hommes Foundation 2021: Rapid Needs Assessment in the Gaza Strip and West Bank
including East Jerusalem
91 UNFPA (2019), Women and girls with disabilities: Needs of survivors of gender-based violence and
services offered to them, pp. 5-6.
92
Assessing the urgent needs of women and girls after the May 2021 offensive in Gaza, UNFPA 2021
93
Zakaria Alsallout and Abeer Joma'a 2021: Gender based violence and disability inclusion
94 Gender Justice Report, p. 14.
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