| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Mideast: UN tracks rising violence against women in Gaza |
| 2009-04-25 |
| [ADN Kronos] The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in Gaza, local Palestinian NGOs and mental health professionals are reporting increased incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault against women in Gaza since the beginning of 2009. An unpublished UNIFEM survey of male and female heads of 1,100 Gaza households conducted between 28 February and 3 March indicates there was an increase in violence against women during and after the 23-day war which ended on 18 January. "According to our staff, and through clinical observation, there was increased violence against women and children during and after the war," said public relations coordinator for the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP), Husam al-Nounou. "We can attribute this to the fact that most people were exposed to traumatic incidents during the war, and one way people react to stress is to become violent." GCMHP, which runs six clinics and treats an estimated 2,000 mental health patients a year, carried out a post-war assessment, interviewing about 3,500 Gaza residents, said al-Nounou. "This war was extremely harsh, people felt insecure, vulnerable and unable to protect themselves, their children and their families; when people were trapped at home this increased the stress and anxiety," said al-Nounou. The Director of the women's unit at the leading Palestinian human rights organisation, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), Muna As-Shawa, said the centre had received reports of increased domestic violence and sexual assault during and after the hostilities. The unit had counselled over 600 women. "During and after the war women struggled to fulfil their roles as mothers, and care for their children without electricity and water, while under attack," said As-Shawa, "and if the husband died, sometimes the father-in-law took the inheritance and tried to take custody of the children." PCHR is providing legal advice to widows. The Women's Affairs Centre (WAC) in Gaza said it had organised meetings with 200 women across Gaza after the war. "Many women who never experienced violence at home, were beaten during the war," WAC director Amal Siam told IRIN. Scores of women who lost their husbands came to WAC seeking assistance after their fathers-in-law tried to take custody of their children, said Siam, adding that there had been an increased number of divorce cases during the hostilities. According to UNIFEM, the results of the first UN inter-agency gender needs assessment are due in May. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Of course, most of the violence against women in Gaza is the fault of the Jooos. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2009-04-25 11:10 |
| #1 The fruits of terrorism. As they sow, so shall they reap.... |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2009-04-25 09:44 |