PALESTINIAN WOMEN

During the Intifada, Palestinian women chalked up achievements and sacrifices which firmly established their place and status in the struggle against Zionism and occupation. This has considerably challenged ways of thinking which traditionally refused their rights to express their national and social identity. The changing role of women is determined by their participation in resistance and political life, and increased education and employment. However, this is not reflected in women's representation in the decision-making process or in national institutions.

Besides the political sphere, women's role in the social movement is of major importance, reflected in the huge amount of women's organizations dealing with all aspects of life. They make up a considerable part of Palestinian civil society.

The low figure for female participation in the labour force (it is estimated around 11% in the West Bank and 3-4% in Gaza) is caused by 3 reasons: the fear of losing her "honour" while working out of the family's control; the shame for the male head to seemingly be unable to provide the necessary family income; and the fact that working in the household economy is not counted. Those who leave the house to take up employment are often obliged to provide or add to the financial resources of the family due to the imprisonment, deportation, death or injury of male family members.

In August 1994, Palestinian women held a conference and released a draft document to be included in the Palestinian constitution guaranteeing political, social, economic and cultural rights for women based on the principle of ideological and individual pluralism and of the respect for the individual and social freedom. The Palestinian Declaration of Independence (1988) had already outlined that "Governance will be based on principles of social justice, equality and non-discrimination in pupblic rights of men or women, on grouds of race, religion, coluor or sex under the aegis of a construction which ensures rule of law and an independent judiciary..."