5th Annual Conference on Gender Justice from a National and Religious Perspective

The 5th anniversary of this important event comes during an extremely difficult time for the Palestinian community. This conference gave special attention to the situation of women and girls in Gaza during the ongoing genocide and to the role our various institutions play in addressing the war, which currently represents the biggest threat to health, safety, and justice for all. The conference was held as part of the YW4A program and of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

 

Opening remarks for the day were given by Bishop Azar of the ELCJHL; Minister Mona al-Khalili, Minister of Women Affairs; Bishop Mar Yaacoub Ephram Semaan, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Church of Jerusalem, the Holy Land, and Jordan; and Mr. Simon Ridley, Sawasya Joint Programme Manager of the United Nations Development Programme.

 

In the first session, Judge Somoud Damiri, first female Chief Prosecutor of the Shari’a Prosecution and first female judge on the Shari’a Court of Appeals and Judge Scarlet Bishara, first female judge on the Ecclesiastical Court of the ELCJHL, discussed the findings of their recent research focused on the deteriorating rights of women and girls due to the impacts of war.

 

In the second session, Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, ELCJHL pastor; Ms. Haitham Arar, Secretary-General of the General Union of Palestinian Women; Mr. Ahmed Al-Zaben, Director General of the General Administration of Civil Status; Judge Hala Mansour, Representative of the Supreme Judicial Council; and Mr. Badr Zmaira, Executive Director of the Sharek Youth Forum, discussed the role of religious and community leaders and official institutions amid the war.

 

Gender Justice Ministry Director Mrs. Ranan Issa gave the concluding remarks for the day and Rev. Sally Azar, the first female pastor in the ELCJHL, gave the closing blessing to the assembly. The conference was moderated by Ms. Shadin Nassar.

 

We are grateful for the religious leaders, government officials, judges, and community members who came together to envision and discuss how each one of us can work toward a more equal world for Palestine and beyond.