International Women's Day of 8 March 2015 is marked amidst the continued deterioration in the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and the Gaza Strip in particular.
Palestinian women are confronting severe economic, social and political conditions, and bearing the brunt of the harsh circumstances, as has been the case for many years.
Palestinian women are confronted with poverty and unemployment, and are subjected to arrests and killing in direct and targeted attacks.
The Israeli authority deprives Palestinian women of their rights to freedom of movement and travel, and to obtain medical treatment and access medical institutions.
The violations are systematic and encompass infringements on political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights.
According to monitoring and documentation conducted by human rights organizations during the Israeli-codenamed aggression “Operation Protective Edgeâ€‌ against the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces killed 293 women.
Approximately 34,697women lost their houses due to the Israeli-wrought destruction.
Approximately 2,604 of the homes that were demolished by Israeli forces during the aggression were owned by Palestinian women.
In addition, around 791 women in the Gaza Strip lost their husbands during the same period.
According to the Ministry of Health, 2,168 women were injured during the same period and 600 women had abortions during the war.
Women confront the absence of the rule of law on a daily basis in a professional environment where the principles of the right to work are not fulfilled; salary scales are unequal based on gender; and working hours do not match the national and international standards.
Varying social views on the role of women in society have compounded these issues.
A more extreme perspective in society goes so far as to view a woman's role as solely reproductive; a perspective that violates women's right to live in dignity.
Palestinian women are directly targeted in familiar disputes, most notably in so-called honor related crimes.
According to Al Mezan, around 38 women have been killed since 2004 in so-called family-honor related issues.
On this important Day, Al Mezan recognizes women around the world.
Al Mezan pays tribute to Palestinian women for the female role played in the national struggle for freedom and independence, and in the struggle to realize women's rights.
Al Mezan reiterates its support for the struggle of women and the continued demands for equality.
Al Mezan will continue its efforts to combat all forms of discrimination against women, especially on issues relating to the right to work, education, or enjoyment of public freedoms.
In doing so, Al Mezan will continue to support women's organizations, in Gaza.
Al Mezan asserts that women's success in achieving their rights and enhancing their equal position with men forms an important indicator to the rule of justice and equality in any society.
Al Mezan calls upon the international community to provide protection for Palestinian women who are subject to ethnic discrimination by Israeli forces, which is represented in the form of the closure/blockade imposed of the Gaza Strip and denial of access to land and vital services in the West Bank.
Al Mezan calls on the Palestinian government to protect women's right and to ensure respect for the rights of women at all times.
Al Mezan also calls on Palestinian political parties and civil society organizations to support the movement for women's rights and to ensure the efforts are firmly grounded on female leadership.