The Faculty of Law at Al-Quds University launched the proceedings of the international conference titled Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Challenges, Solutions, and Best Practices in the Mediterranean Region in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the NGO Forum to Combat Violence Against Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the University of Perugia in Italy (Università degli Studi di Perugia), with support from the Italian Cooperation.
On the opening day, researchers presented their selected papers at the university’s main campus. Their findings were discussed and reviewed in the presence of academics, experts, policymakers, and civil society representatives. The conference is organized around five central themes: violence against women, gender equality in the labor market and workplace, women and society, gender and government sectors, and insights from the Italian experience.
President of Al-Quds University, Prof. Dr. Hanna Abd Al-Nour, emphasized that the economic empowerment of women is a key pathway to enhancing their resilience and contributions, highlighting women’s essential role in nation-building. He added that women bring a vital creative and human dimension to work and leadership, playing a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development across the sectors of education, health, environment, economy, and beyond.
Prof. Abd Al-Nour added that having women as partners in decision-making enhances integrity and reinforces the values of transparency, justice, and accountability. He noted that the contribution of women at the university stands as a model of leadership and innovation and that their distinguished work has been instrumental in elevating the university to an international level.
Minister of Women’s Affairs Mona Al-Khalili stressed the importance of scientific research in supporting efforts toward gender equality, especially amid the exceptional circumstances faced by women in Gaza. She emphasized the urgent need to provide a safe environment that enables women to fulfill their economic, social, and developmental roles. She affirmed that the ministry places special emphasis on the economic empowerment program and actively encourages women’s participation in the fields of digitalization and knowledge economy, as well as increasing their presence in the labor market.
Dr. Issa Manasrah, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Al-Quds University, underscored that the conference reflects the faculty’s core legal mission: shaping the policies that govern both society and the state. He explained that the faculty seeks to exert a positive influence on these policies and to respond to the needs of the community and its members in pursuit of justice and fairness. He expressed his appreciation to the university for supporting such initiatives as part of its social responsibility, noting that this support contributes to the development of policies that uphold human dignity and protect fundamental rights.
Dr. Manasrah also announced the establishment of a Women’s Rights Unit for Legal Studies, dedicated to producing research aimed at empowering women and safeguarding their rights. He noted that the unit will build on the conference’s outcomes to guide the center’s work in collaboration with government institutions and civil society partners.
For his part, Mirco Tricoli, Director of the Italian Development Cooperation Office, noted that this initiative reflects a strong collective commitment to gender equality. It reinforces the principles of promoting dialogue, advancing academic partnerships, and sharing best educational practices. He added that the initiative aims to strengthen gender equality and prevent gender-based violence in Palestine by fostering social, cultural, and economic transformation.
Tricoli also highlighted the partnership with Palestinian universities and the University of Perugia in facilitating academic and student exchange between the two sides. He stressed that education is the cornerstone for developing solutions and combating violence against women, paving the way for an inclusive society built on empowerment and equality. He added that this partnership contributes to preparing a new generation that is aware, skilled, and capable of confronting contemporary social, cultural, and economic challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the conference partners, Ms. Sabah Salama from the Forum to Combat Violence Against Women called for the adoption of laws and policies that protect women, the launch of media programs that promote equality, the strengthening of international cooperation, and the building of partnerships with women’s rights organizations, in addition to expanding research on women and gender issues. The conference, she noted, paves the way for a comprehensive approach to change, starting with awareness, strengthening it through legal protection, and ultimately integrating it into social practice.
The conference aims to shed light on the broader challenges faced by women in the region, with particular attention to the multi-dimensional struggles of Palestinian women. It also seeks to examine and identify concrete mechanisms to ensure the full respect, protection, and fulfillment of their rights—especially amid the worsening social, political, and economic conditions in Palestine.
The conference spans three days. On the second day, a hearing session will take place in the form of a roundtable with civil society partners, during which the applied research findings will be presented at the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling. On the final day, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in collaboration with the relevant government institutions, will host a workshop. The conference will conclude with a roundtable bringing together government representatives, partners, researchers, and civil society organizations to develop a concrete plan for implementing the conference’s final recommendations.
