Women's Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories (PDF)

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2015 in the subject Politics - Topic: Public International Law and Human Rights, grade: 1, Carlow University (College of Leadership and Social Change), course: Internship, language: English, abstract: Women have struggled and continue to struggle for equal rights in virtually every nation of the world. In areas such as education, occupational opportunities, reproductive rights, freedom of movement, political participation, and healthcare, many women around the globe face limited options and social and political restrictions that are difficult if not impossible to overcome. These difficulties are uniquely apparent in the Palestinian Territories, where a complicated geopolitical situation exacerbates the traditional limitations on the rights of Middle Eastern women.

The volatile living conditions in Palestine create issues regarding women's human rights. Limited mobility and lack of access to essential resources make it difficult for women to access adequate healthcare. Daily violence and social norms create barriers in education for girls and women in the Territories. The representation of women in the civic community is minimal due to women's lack of participation in political life. And domestic violence flourishes due to legal and social norms that are exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with Israel. Women's access to the legal system and justice, already made difficult by the Sharia Law under which Palestine operates, is even more complicated when day-to-day life itself may make society unconcerned with accusations of rape and domestic violence. The following research merely scratches the surface of the complex sociopolitical system under which the women of Palestine live.