The minister of Women’s Affairs welcomed the representative of Finland to the State of Palestine and discuss joint cooperation

The minister of Women’s Affairs Ms. Mona Al Khalili welcomed today at the premises of the ministry , the representative of Finland to the state of Palestine her excellency Ms. Tarja KangasKorte, to discuss the reality of the Palestinian women under the severe current conditions, and discussed the possibilities of enhancing joint cooperation in fields of women and girls protection, economic empowerment, combating violence against women, and exchange expertise and practices in the fields of enhancing and promoting gender equality.

Al Khalili appreciated Finland's support for the rights of the Palestinian people and its efforts in the peace process, emphasizing the importance of enhancing joint cooperation in the fields of protecting women and girls, economic empowerment, psychological and social support, and exchanging experiences and building capacities.

She explained that the ministry's strategy is based on the pillars of protection and empowerment, in light of the exceptional circumstances faced by Palestinian women due to aggression and the assaults of the occupation and settlers. She pointed out the ministry's continued documentation of violations against women and girls, enhancing their political, economic, and social participation, and developing policies and legislation that ensure equality, equal opportunities, and full citizenship. Ms. Mona Al Khalilialso expressed her concern about the conditions of Palestinian female prisoners, emphasizing the necessity of accountability and respect for international law.

Al Khalili emphasized that economic empowerment is a priority for the ministry, pointing to the support of small and micro women's projects in partnership with Italian cooperation, Spanish cooperation, and the United Nations Development Program “UNDP”, which contributes to reducing poverty and enhancing women's ability to support their families, especially in light of the detention of Palestinian funds and the decline in government services. She noted that families headed by women are among the most vulnerable to poverty.

On her part, the Finnish Ambassador to the State of Palestine, Tarja Kangaskorte, affirmed the alignment of Palestinian and Finnish goals and interests in promoting the rights of women and girls, noting that gender equality is one of Finland's core priorities and that her country's progress has been linked to ensuring equal rights for women and men.

Kangaskorte praised the efforts of the Ministry of Women's Affairs in developing the National Observatory for Violence Against Women, appreciating the importance of this initiative in monitoring violence and enhancing the response to the observatory. She expressed her country's interest in exchanging experiences and practices in this field, in light of the challenges related to violence against women in various societies, including Finnish society.

She pointed out Finland's support for the efforts of UN and international institutions working in the field of women's rights, including UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund, as well as support for human rights institutions, emphasizing the importance of building on existing areas of cooperation and enhancing partnerships to promote the rights of women and girls.