Gender Equality in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Project Overview

The United Kingdom, including through its Conflict, Security and Stability Fund supports progress towards gender equality in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), due to its impact on peace building, economic and security objectives, as defined in the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) National Security Council Strategy. Globally, the evidence shows that increased levels of gender equality are linked to reduced levels of internal and external conflict. MENA GDP growth could have been doubled between 2003-2013 had the gender gap been narrowed. In security terms, violence against women and girls is an important factor in the radicalisation of women. The main focus of this program is supporting the development of inclusive and sustainable Palestinian institutions for a future Palestinian State (with particular emphasis on the security sector); building the conditions within Palestinian and Israeli society that are conducive to a peace agreement; and protecting the most vulnerable communities, helping them to remain on their land and preserving the viability of the two state solutionThe main beneficiary of this project will be the Palestinian public, women and girls, as well as men and boys will benefit from this project, thanks to the clear peace building, economic and security benefits that arise from greater gender parity. The main objective of this project is defined as ‘Supporting Palestinian women to take their rightful place as equal leaders in a future Palestinian State’. It is envisioned that the project will both enable women to take up leadership positions, particularly in the security and legal sectors given existing MEPP CSSF focus in these areas, and promote the visibility of Palestinian women in leadership positions.