2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Gaza and West Bank
Identify MHPSS capacities and capacity building needs and provide
trainings for teachers, counselors and caregivers, such as PFA, self-
care and supervision
Protection risk 5: Specific risks facing women and
girls-Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Gaza
Risks of violence and discrimination for women in Palestine, including
domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual abuse and child/forced
marriage continue unabated. The combined effects of Israeli occupation
and Palestine's patriarchal culture shape and drive gender inequality and
any improvements remain hampered by ongoing rounds of violence and
conflict the most recent the devastating May 2021 conflict. 79 According to
UN Women study 80, majority of women surveyed (90%) believe tension
within the community and home increased in the aftermath of the May
2021 escalation. In addition to general protection afforded to woman as
civilians, IHL provides that the specific protection, health and assistance
needs of women must be respected and contains provisions to address
specific conflict-related forms of violence against women.
81
The Protection Cluster and GBV-Sub Cluster produced a thematic Protection
Analysis Update on protection issues affecting women and girls in March
2022 which provides additional details and data to the below, including on
most vulnerable and at-risk groups and impacts of COVID-19 with regards
to shelters, access to justice, women and girls with disabilities and stigma 82.
Gender-based violence (GBV)
GBV is a major protection risk in the opt, with visible impacts in 2021 and
increasing demand for services. Women and girls in opt face widespread
and varied risks of GBV throughout their lives, exacerbated by conflict,
displacement and movement restrictions. 83 In the opt women are four
times more likely to experience intimate partner violence and often have
no option but to rely on their abuser limiting their ability to build resilience
and access services.
In Gaza life-saving GBV services are extremely limited and access is further
restricted by stigma and discrimination • with the result that those who
experience GBV are not able to access quality, timely care and support to
recover.
No comprehensive law dealing with discrimination against women exists in
the opt. 84 Moreover, the political and legal fragmentation between West
Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem in itself poses a major obstacle to the
protection of women and girls. At present, no laws specifically criminalize
GBV such as femicide, domestic violence, and sexual harassment, abuse,
and assault. 85
79
https://palestine.unfpa.org/en/gender-based-violence
80
81
UN Women Multi-sectoral Needs Assessment in Gaza, 2022
For example IV GC, Article 27 (protection against sexual violence)
82 opt Protection Cluster | Protection Analysis Update - Protection issues affecting women and girls,
March 2022
83
The SAWA Hotline reported a 70 per cent increase in calls after the beginning of COVID-lockdowns.
This helpline operates in all of the opt and provides support and assistance, primary social and
psychological counseling for women, children, and men who have been exposed to various forms of
violence and abuse
84
CEDAW, Concluding observations on the initial report of the State of Palestine,
CEDAW/C/PSE/CO/1, para. 10.
85
Femicide is the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender
1
21View entire presentation