Gaza: Civil activists renew campaign to end violence against women in the Strip
Gaza Strip, Palestine 25-11-2016
Hundreds of women participated in the demonstration Thursday to call for an end to violence against women. In the occupied Palestinian territory, women and girls continue to experience integrated systems of violence, based on continuing military occupation, human rights violations, and a growing humanitarian crisis, compounded with traditions, religion and patriarchal norms. Rights violations occur in the private as well as in the public sphere, ranging from issues such as marriage/divorce, child custody, reproductive health and domestic violence, on the one hand, to access to education and economic opportunities, on the other. The level of violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains high and a culture of silence and stigma persists around the phenomenon. Recently, cases of reported femicide have increased, with several of the killings occurring brazenly in public places such as streets and markets.