The minister of Women’s Affairs meets with the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation and discusses the conditions of Palestinian working women and ways to enhance their rights.

The Minister of Women's Affairs, Ms. Mona Al Khalili met yesterday with the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, Mr. Luca Traianjil, to discuss the reality of Palestinian women in light of the repercussions of aggression and the restrictions associated with occupation and displacement, and their impact on the conditions of working women, their livelihoods, and their labor rights. This also included enhancing international trade union solidarity with Palestinian women and supporting efforts to ensure their economic, social, and labor rights.

 During the meeting, Al Khalili reviewed the repercussions of the aggression on Palestinian women at various political, economic, health, legal, and social levels, and the escalating challenges it imposed on women's opportunities for work and access to markets and essential services, amid rising unemployment rates and the increasing number of households headed by women, as well as the growing burdens of caregiving and economic responsibilities they bear.

 The efforts and achievements of the Ministry of Women's Affairs in the field of economic and political empowerment of women were also reviewed, including enhancing their participation in public life and the labor market, developing policies and interventions aimed at protecting their rights and improving their access to decent and sustainable work, emphasizing the importance of strengthening international and union partnerships to support the resilience of Palestinian women and empower them to face the repercussions of occupation and the economic crisis.

 Al Khalili submitted an official report titled "The Impact of War and Occupation-Related Restrictions and Displacement on the Employment, Livelihoods, and Labor Rights of Palestinian Women," aiming to highlight the disparity and varying impact among Palestinian women due to war, access and movement, work restrictions, displacement, and to provide practical recommendations to enhance employment opportunities, social protection, and guarantee their labor rights.

 The report reviewed indicators of the reality of women in the Palestinian labor market, where the percentage of women's participation in the workforce in the West Bank reached 17.9% during the second quarter of 2026, while unemployment among them reached 30.5%, and rose to 51.2% among young female graduates. Meanwhile, in Gaza Strip, the unemployment rate among women reached 92% in 2025, amid the widespread destruction of the foundations of life and work and the exacerbation of economic and social burdens.

 For his part, Mr. Traianjil expressed his solidarity with the Palestinian people, praising the efforts and achievements presented by the Minister of Women's Affairs, and emphasizing the importance of protecting Palestinian women's rights and enhancing their presence in the labor market, He also stressed ensuring equality in labor rights between women and men, including decent work opportunities, fair wages, social protection, and work-related rights.

 Mr. Traianjil emphasized the importance of the information and data included in the report in shedding light on the reality of Palestinian women and the challenges they face, noting that he will rely on its contents during the scheduled meeting that will be conducted at the United Nations on the sidelines of the commemoration of the anniversary of UN Resolution 1325. In addition, Mr. Traianjil will disseminate the report key points to international labor unions, which will contribute to garnering support for Palestinian women and enhancing international pressure toward holding the occupation accountable for the violations they are subjected to.

 Both sides emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation with the international trade union movement and relevant partners to support sustainable employment opportunities for Palestinian women, enhance social protection and labor rights, and translate the recommendations in the report into practical steps that contribute to improving the reality of Palestinian women and strengthening their resilience.