Women's Leadership Conference to Support Palestinian Women and Children “Safety is My Right” Held in Qatar

 

The Global Women’s Coalition, in partnership with the State of Qatar, held the International Women’s Leadership Conference to Support Palestinian Women and Children under the slogan, “Safety is My Right’ on May 11 and May 12, 2024, in Doha, Qatar. 300 leadership figures attended from 62 countries around the world. The conference included 5 dialogue sessions that aimed to support and protect Palestinian women and children in Gaza during the aggression, mobilize the efforts of Pro-Palestinian Women leaders in order to form a strong and influencial women’s front that supports Palestinain rights.

 

This conference comes in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip in order to come up with executive projects to aid and support the people of Gaza given the genocide against 2.3 million citizen. The conference began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran followed by the national anthems of Qatar and Palestine.

 

In a speech by Mrs. Lolwah Al-Khater, Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that safety is a legitimate right for everyone, as established by religions and guaranteed by laws. It is a right violated by none but those whose nature had been distorted and whose humanity had been lost.

 

In this context, Al-Khater affirmed the State of Qatar's firm commitment to supporting their Palestinian brothers and sisters until they achieve all their legitimate rights, especially the right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state with the Holy Al-Quds as its capital.

 

In a speech by Ms. Rabab Awad, General-Secretary of the GWCQP, she affirmed that we have gathered from 62 countries worldwide for the women of Gaza who remain steadfast on their land and have lost their lives, and for the children who have had their childhood and dreams stolen. For their sake, we have gathered at this conference to say: “Safety is your right at a time where your rights are being lost.” At the end of her speech, she presented the greatest verses for pride and honor for Palestinian women, the makers of men; the women who emerge from the rubble of their homes, bidding farewell to their martyred children and husbands, and saying, “We will not forget our land, and we will remain steadfast and rooted here.”

 

In a speech by Dr. Noura Al-Hanzab, President of the Conference and President of the Qatari Women’s Coalition, she paid tribute to the Marabuteen in Gaza who remain steadfast on their land despite the killing and displacement. She said that the catastrophic situation that the Palestinian people are experiencing due to the practices of the occupation gives us a great religious and humanitarian responsibility, stressing the necessity of forming an effective global women’s front that supports Palestinian rights. She also said that Gaza today, with its women and children, expects us to be at the level of their sacrifices and steadfastness and to be supportive of their Ribat. At the end of her speech, she called for the necessity of immediately stopping the aggression against Gaza and defending their legitimate rights to achieve freedom, dignity, justice, and a decent life on their lands.

 

In the first session of the conference, titled Safety is My Right, participants included Her Excellency, Professor Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, Dr. Fatima Bint Habib, former Minister and Deputy Speaker of the Mauritanian Parliament, Nawara Jaafar, member of the Algerian National Assembly, and Fawzia Bint Saleh, Deputy Minister of Internal Trade.

 

In the second session, titled Let’s Stop It, participants included Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer who spoke about the violations against children and women and the possible legal and human rights options to stop the crimes of the occupation, and Dr. Luigi Daniel, a lecturer at the University of Nottingham Law School who spoke about the role of international institutions and UN organizations in implementing international laws. It also included Ms. Abeer Al-Khatib, founder of the PAACT International Fund to Support Palestine, who spoke about the importance of forming a human rights lobby in favor of women and children’s issues, and Mrs. Lara Al-Borno, a Palestinian-American lawyer and activist who spoke of South Africa as an example.

 

As for the third session, titled Identity and Victory, the speakers clarified the governing ethical values in dealing with the enemy, as well as the emergence of religious identity in Gaza, its impact on steadfastness and liberation, and the extent of its impact on the world.

 

In this context, the fourth session, titled Leadership, emphasized on the boycott and strategically utilizing its role. Plus, creating mechanisms to empower women in Palestine within pioneering projects, and also develop permanent economic resources to support Palestinian women.

 

The fifth and final session, titled The Face of Truth between Innovation and Diffusion, discussed the role of influencers in spreading the Palestinian narrative and swaying public opinion towards it.

 

In a related context, Mr. Wael Al-Dahdouh, Bureau Chief of Al-Jazeera in Gaza City, spoke on the mechanisms for sustaining media work on the Palestinian cause.

 

During the conference, a number of projects were presented and adopted by the participants, such as the Shelter Project, the University Project, the Lone Survivor Project, the Women’s Bag Project, and the Children’s Bag Project.

 

In a speech by Dr. Omaima Al-Tijani, President of the GWCQP, she stressed that Al-Quds will remain the compass for all the free people and said, “When we launched the institution, our primary goal was for the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds to be a humanitarian cause. Therefore, we were keen on making the formation from all continents and countries, so these were free people and women leaders who support and advocate for the Palestinian cause.”

 

In this context, she called for focusing on the projects that were presented at the conference and for them to be the beginning of the largest activity until all goals are achieved and a significant impact is made in supporting Palestinian women and children.

 

In a speech by Dr. Jabariya Qarbi, Vice President of the GWCQP, she said, “There is no woman resembling the Gazan woman and no child resembling the Gazan child,” and that “Gazan women, with their persistence and steadfastness, call on us to join them with efforts and achievements that are equivalent to the extent of their patience.” She stressed that the outcomes of the conference bearing the slogan “Safety is my right” are pioneering projects, whether implemented during or after the war. These projects will be a platform for support and continuation of the demand for the right to safety for women and children, as well as a pledge that the Global Women’s Coalition will continue to advance women’s efforts in the world and participate in any global effort that would support Palestinian women and children.

 

The conference concluded with the presentation of the closing statement by Dr.  Sajida Abu Fares, Vice President of the Global Women’s Coalition. In it, she stressed the importance of women’s role in the world and mobilizing their energies in supporting Palestinian women and children, as well as confronting the Zionist occupation projects that aim to bring about a second Nakba for Palestine. She also stressed the necessity of women’s action in all its catagories and specializations to confront the genocide that Palestinian women and children are exposed to.

 

In the same context, six fundamental projects were launched to support women and children in Gaza in the humanitarian, legal, media and educational aspects: the Shelter Project for Breadwinning Women, the Foster and Care Project for Lone Survivors, the Women’s Bag Project, the Children’s Bag Project, the University Support Project, and the Pioneer Project.

 

Among the most prominent outcomes of the conference were the following:

 

• The State of Mauritania’s contribution to the Foster and Care Project for Lone Survivors.
• Qatar’s adoption of the Lone Survivor Project and Shelter for Breadwinning Women Project.
• The adoption of the Children’s Bag Project by the Women’s Coalition in Indonesia, Adara Foundation for Relief and Humanitarian Work.
• The Islamic Union in Lebanon’s contribution to the Children’s Bag Project.
• The Women’s Coalition in Thailand’s contribution to the Children’s Bag Project and Women’s Bag Project.
• Algeria’s adoption of the project to provide 100 temporary shelter units for breadwinning women.
• A partnership between the Malaysian Madani Foundation and Marjoun to support the Women’s Bag Project.
• the Malaysian Coalition’s adoption of the “Rose to Rose” Foundation as a representation of the Malaysian civil society institutions for the Lone Survivor Project.
• The Libyan Red Crescent’s contribution to the Women’s Bag Project and the Children’s Bag Project.
• Launching the Professional Women’s Business Network in Kuwait, which is a supportive project that puts a stamp on Pro-Palestine products, making it the first project that brings together business leaders in the world to empower women and serve children.