Promoting Local Government Staff’s Effective Training and Communication Skills to Integrate Gender Issues in Local Government Functions
Birzeit: 30 August 2012 – In the context of the Curricula Development and Training of Judges, Prosecutors, Lawyers and Local Government Staff project, the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit University concluded a training course on Promoting Local Government Staff’s Effective Training and Communication Skills to Integrate Gender Issues in Local Government Functions. The training targeted staff members of local government units (LGUs) in the West Bank governorates.
Concluding a series of previous training courses on integration of gender criteria in the work of LGUs, the training introduced advanced, effective training skills, including in relation to planning, implementation, and evaluation. In addition to integrating gender criteria, the training shed light on family dynamics and development of relevant community projects. 12 LGU staff members took part in this 5-day training course.
In the closing ceremony, Mr. Jamil Salem, IoL Director, highlighted the significant working relationship between the IoL and Ministry of Local Government (MoLG) in various areas. Fulfilling its role and responsibility towards the society, the IoL implements programmes designed to develop staff members’ skills in different sectors, including public sector, through training, capacity building, research, and legislation enhancement initiatives. Representing the MoLG, Mrs. Hanan Imseih emphasised the role IoL has played over almost two years as well as its effective and professional contribution to supporting the Ministry. In particular, the IoL has helped integrate gender criteria in the MoLG work. Certificates were distributed to participants at the end of the ceremony.
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.
