A Training Course Targeting Local Government Ministry Staff in Gaza

Gaza: 7 July 2012 – In cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit University launched a training course on Promoting Local Government Unit Staff’s Skills in Gender Issues. The training was organised in the context of the Curricula Development and Training of Judges, Prosecutors, Lawyers and Local Government Staff project. 31 MoLG staff members took part in this 5-day the training course.

Eng. Sufian Abu Samrah, MoLG Undersecretary, expressed his thanks and gratitude to the IoL for its significant effort and initiative to organise this training workshop. This endeavour “is a gesture of national allegiance that builds citizens’ capacity to meet concurrent challenges”. Eng. Abu Samrah asserted that the Gaza-based MoLG has lacked such training events since 2006. “This distinctive course and training themes provides informed thoughts and incentives that will help the Ministry develop and improve its employees’ work,” he concluded.

In the opening statement, Mrs. Lina at Tounisi, Coordinator of the IoL Gaza Office, welcomed participants in the training course and made a briefing note about the IoL project and relevant activities, , including training courses delivered in the Gaza Strip. Mrs. At Tounisi explained that the project “is designed eliminate all forms of gender-based violence. It seeks to promote women’s participation in various areas, including decision-making circles.”

As part of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women in the occupied Palestinian territory, six UN Agencies, namely UNDP/PAPP, UN-Women, ILO, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNRWA, are implementing a Joint Programme funded by the Government of Spain on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, covering the period 2009-2012. The Program aims to achieve three major Outcomes:
1. Reducing gender based violence and all form of violence against women and the girl child;
2. Increasing the representation of women’s and women’s issues in decision making bodies;
3. Advancing equal opportunities for women’s economic participation, especially women survivors of gender based violence.

With reference to output 1.3 “Capacity to provide refuge, security, and access to justice strengthened” and output 2.2, “Organize training and workshops to raise awareness on gender in local authorities and related NGOs”, UNDP seeks to:

1. Develop specialised curricula and training material and conduct training for judges, lawyers and prosecutors on gender issues and the provision of assistance to victims of violence and gender based violence.
2. Provide gender awareness training to local government staff in 15 districts to develop their capacity on mainstreaming gender in district development planning and service provision.