Palestinian Women's Affairs Technical Committee site (fwd)

[malgosia askanas <ma@xxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 00:51:56 +0300
From: watc <watc@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: spoons@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: New Site

Dear subscribers,

The Palestinian Women's Affairs Technical Committee is pleased to inform
you that its bilingual website, Arabic and English, is now on-line. The
website contains info on Palestinian women issues and activities. The
website is also contains WATC goals, programs, members, newsletters, and
future plans. This site will be continuously updated and it will give a
precise idea on Palestinian women activities and issues.
One of the objectives of the creation of this website is to facilitate
contacts between Palestinian women with other women regionally and
internationally. The site will also give the opportunity for interested
people to be in direct contact with women activists in Palestine.

Our website can be found at:

www.pal.watc.org
You may also contact us via e-mail:
Suheir Azzouni, Director
Watcorg@xxxxxxxxxx
Waddah Abdelsalam, International Women's Network coordinator
Watc@xxxxxxxxxx

Here's info on WATC

Women's Affairs Technical Committee


WATC is a coalition of women affiliated to five political parties in
Palestine, six women's study centers, human rights organizations and
many political independent professional women. WATC was established in
1992 as part of the Technical Committees formed to assist the
Palestinian negotiation team in preparation for the peace negotiations.
WATC organizations work together for the realization of the elimination
of all forms of discrimination against women in the pursuit of a well
established, civic, democratic society that respects human rights. WATC
headquarters are based in Ramallah. WATC has a branch in Gaza and
regional coordinators throughout Palestine.

Aims and Objectives
1. To mainstream Palestinian women's issues within the process of
constructing a democratic society free of all forms of discrimination.
2. To affect the devising of gender-sensitive policies and legislation
in various spheres of life.
3. To develop the self assertiveness of women using latest methodologies
in adult education and training.
4. To enhance the involvement of women and their representation in
political life, at all levels, especially the decision-making level.
5. To lobby decision-makers in Palestinian society to promote equal
rights for women.
6. To empower and support existing women's committees and groups on the
operational and organizational level.


WATC attempts to attain its objectives through:

1. Networking: WATC aims to inform women, both locally and
internationally, about the achievements and challenges facing
Palestinian women. Networking includes activities that strengthen the
coalition of WATC organizations such a s holding meetings for activists,
publishing leaflets, petitions, newsletters, contacting supporters and
coordinating Executive Committee meetings. In addition, the networking
includes exchanging experiences with women professionals form all Arab
world and arranging for mass marches of women to express women's
demands.
2. Advocacy: WATC lobbies decision makers for changing in the law in all
effort to render legislation more gender-sensitive. WATC strives to
establish various pressure groups to lobby for more rights for women.
The Advocacy Program of WATC monitors all kinds of discrimination
against women in all organizations on lobbying strategies.
3. Campaigning: WATC campaigns with women on equal rights/ It also has
its own project which involves campaigning with rural women and
addressing their practical and strategic needs. WATC also reaches out to
young women throughout the West Bank, training them in various skills
and including them in WATC advocacy work.
4. Training: WATC trained hundreds of women in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip on various topics such as communication skills, managerial and
administrative skills, gender planning and human rights education. WATC
aims to improve the capacity of employees of women's organizations
through training that is specially designed to meet the assessed needs.
WATC also trains female candidates for the legislative and municipal
council elections.
5. Media Program: WATC publishes a bi-weekly newspaper supplement
entitled "The Voice of Women", quarterly Arabic and English newsletters,
leaflets and different reading materials about women's rights issues.
WATC also broadcasts a special radio program. "Be with Women" on the
official Palestine Broadcasting Service thrice weekly. WATC is now
embarking on a weekly half hour TV program on women's issues and
concerns.
6. Data base formation: WATC formed a data base concerned mainly with
women's issues at the national and international level. This will help
Palestinian women to exchange experience with women in other parts of
the world.