Palestinians join UN agencies in denouncing honour killings and gender abuse

[oberliner]

5 December 2008 – Eight United Nations agencies have co-sponsored the first Palestinian ‘festival’ to combat violence against women, driving home the message that so-called “honour killings” have nothing to do with honour and seeking to break the conspiracy of silence surrounding domestic abuse.

“It is time for action, not words,” UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Programme Manager in the occupied Palestinian territory Alia El Yassir told the festival in Ramallah on the West Bank. “UN agencies are working as one on this issue and supporting civil societies in their efforts to end violence against women.”

The main message of the festival was threefold:

* Killing a woman has nothing to do with honour. It is a violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms
* Break the conspiracy of silence surrounding domestic violence. Silence protects the perpetrators, and is the greatest obstacle encountered by women and girls in protecting themselves and their children.
* Youth, especially young men, can play a positive and driving role. Male and female Palestinian youth have the right, duty and responsibility to play a key role in building a Palestinian society free of domestic violence against women and girls.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29204&Cr=Palestin&Cr1=Gender

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Very positive move!

I hope it spreads to all communities!

[Violet_Crumble]

2. Thanks for posting that, Oberliner...

I've bookmarked it for future reference...

[azurnoir]

3. Hopefully they can actually DO something to help combat

this terrible practice, which has about as much to do with honor as rape does has to with sex IMO they are both about the same thing dominance

[LeftishBrit]

4. Great! I hope more is done to end these horrible practices everywhere.

[eyl]

5. Good for them n/t