The Deputy Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS, Katja Dominik, this morning participated in a high level event to mark Palestinian Women National Day as well as the 21^st Anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security. The primary topic of today’s event addressed the legal and judicial mechanisms to protect women in light of the international law and human rights.

The event was also addressed by Mohammad Shalaldeh, Minister of Justice, Amal Hamad, Minister of Women Affairs, Qadri Abu Baker, Commissioner of Detainees and Ex-Detainees. as well as Rami Husseini  representing Prime Minister Office. 

In her intervention, Deputy Head of Mission reiterated that EUPOL COPPS remains committed to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, working closely with our Palestinian counterparts in developing legislation and policy, and to ensure that implementation is carried out in a gender-sensitive manner, promoting the participation of women, providing equal opportunities and most crucially to the prevention of gender-based violence.

As an EU CSDP Mission, the fundamental EU values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights are the silver thread of our engagement. We strive to support a Palestinian society where inclusion, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination prevail. Also in line with the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, EUPOL COPPS has developed its own Gender Action Plan, updated annually, including both internal and external activities. Activities are tailored towards the three pillars of the Women, Peace and Security agenda: Protection, Participation, and Gender Mainstreaming, and are equally prioritized in the execution of our mandate.

The ratification without reservations by Palestine of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women is a significant achievement, and a step in the right direction. What remains is to apply the Convention to Palestinian law-making at the very earliest. The Mission is actively supporting gender sensitive drafting of legislation through capacity building of personnel engaged in legal drafting.

As an illustration, Deputy Head of Mission reminded that EUPOL COPPS was able to finalise 20 capacity building projects in the justice sector in June, in which 380 people were trained, including 201 women (53%)

Congratulating all Palestinian woman and girls on their national day, Deputy Head of Mission concluded by reaffirming the support of EUPOL COPPS for the protection of women’s rights, and the required mechanisms for their implementation, expressing confidence that in this very important sphere, tangible milestones will continue to be achieved.