The integration of gender standards into the work of Municipalities

The Birzeit University Institute of Law (IoL) launched on Sunday, July 17, 2011, a specialized training course in the Gaza Strip on “Integrating Gender Standards in Municipality Work”.  The course is part of the Curricula Creation and Training of Judges, Public Prosecutors, Lawyers, and Local Government Staff on Gender Issues Project, which is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The IoL coordinator in Gaza Strip, Ms. Liana Al-Tunisi, launched the course while welcoming the trainees.   She clarified the importance of partnership with the Tami Training Institute, which is implementing the project activities in the Gaza Strip. She pointed out that one of the objectives of the project is to create awareness among local authority staff on gender equality issues and build their capabilities through spreading the consideration of the gender perspective in planning, financing, provision of services and development of legislation and laws.

In her address, Ms. Amal Siam, the trainer for the first day, explained the importance of understanding the particularity of both women and men in order to arrive at comprehensive development policies, by presenting the bases, foundations and roles of gender.  Siam also explained during the training activities the strategic gender needs and the need for the consideration of gender as a development issue in the work of municipalities within their plans, projects and the services they provide to the citizens.

This course is considered the first of three courses targeting the Gaza Strip municipalities, in which 20 employees from the municipalities of the Governorates of Gaza and North Gaza are taking part.  The course will last for five days in the period of July 17-21, 2011.  Also, a select group of specialized trainers who will provide training on a number of subjects, according to the course program, will take part.