Ramallah (UNA/WAFA) – The State of Palestine will launch the Jerusalem, Capital of Arab Women, event on Monday, at the national level. This is an important initiative to support efforts to empower women and advance their rights, and a step towards highlighting the suffering of Palestinian women in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, as confirmed by the Minister of Women's Affairs, Mona Al-Khalili.
“The Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and the Minister of Culture will participate in the launch event, where the latter will announce the ‘Arab Women’s Award in Literature and Poetry,’” she added in an interview with WAFA. She noted that the event comes within the framework of the State of Palestine’s presidency of the 44th session of the Arab Women’s Committee at the League of Arab States, and represents a platform to enhance international lobbying and advocacy efforts, and provides us with the opportunity to represent Arab women in all regional, Arab and international forums, and to accelerate the pace towards achieving justice and equality for women in Palestine and the Arab world..
Al-Khalili explained that the Arab Women's Committee of the League of Arab States announced during its 2025th meeting in Cairo the selection of Jerusalem as the capital of Arab women for the years 2026-XNUMX. The importance of the announcement comes in appreciation of the struggle of Palestinian women at a time when Palestine is subjected to aggression by the occupation, especially the city of Jerusalem and what it suffers from as a result of Israeli policies that target the city and seek to Judaize it and erase its Arab and Islamic character. It also aims to keep our Arab sisters informed of the developments and living conditions of Jerusalemite women in various aspects of life and occupation policies, including arrest, house arrest, demolition, displacement, and most recently the ban on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
She pointed out that the event will focus on the role of Arab women in elevating the status of Jerusalemite women, their suffering, the need to protect them, and the need to hold the occupation accountable for its crimes against our people and women in particular. It will also highlight Israeli policies and their failure to abide by international legitimacy resolutions. During the event, Arab women will be supported to ensure the steadfastness of Jerusalemite women on the economic, political, social, and legal levels, in addition to supporting Jerusalemite institutions.
She noted that the current situation of Palestinian women will be addressed during the year's events, specifically the issues of female detainees in occupation prisons and female martyrs, as well as the forced disappearances, displacement and their repercussions to which women, particularly in the Gaza Strip, are subjected, along with the targeting of shelters. These will be addressed through various conferences and workshops, which will be broadcast on the websites of the League of Arab States and the ministries and mechanisms of women in Arab countries.
Al-Khalili explained that the formation of the National Preparatory Committee for the Implementation of the Declaration of Jerusalem as the Capital of Arab Women for the Year (2025-2026) came in accordance with Presidential Decree No. (8) of 2024, issued by President Mahmoud Abbas, headed by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and includes in its membership high-level representatives of relevant government institutions, to work closely with representatives of civil society institutions and community figures to implement the tasks and emerging activities, and to ensure the success of this event due to its importance at the national and Arab levels with the aim of internationalizing the declaration and mobilizing resources. The Council of Ministers also approved the directions of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs regarding the arrangements for the event, stressing that all events and activities will be implemented in partnership with government institutions, the civil and private sectors, and with the participation of the relevant federations and unions, each according to its specialization..
Regarding the activities, Al-Khalili said: The State of Palestine, represented by the Ministry of Women's Affairs, announced the official logo for Jerusalem as the Capital of Arab Women for the year 2025, which includes a group of symbolic elements that embody the city's identity and status, and confirms Jerusalem's deep connection to the Arab conscience, and its established position as the capital of Arab women, noting that the logo will accompany all activities, and will be placed on all official documents related to social affairs, women and children in the League of Arab States during the current year..
She added that the Ministry and member states participated in the design of the postage stamp that will be circulated in Palestine and the Arab world. The stamp features an artistic painting by Palestinian artist Nabil Anani, reflecting the steadfastness of Palestinian women and their active role in defending Jerusalem and preserving its heritage..
Regarding the proposed events and activities, Al-Khalili said: “The cultural, media and digital aspects include the launch of the ‘Arab Women’s Award’ for the best Arabic literary works that document the living memory of Palestinian women and girls, which will be announced by the Minister of Culture. The Minister also intends to produce a documentary film highlighting the resilience of Palestinian women and their contributions locally and regionally, broadcast across Arab media and digital platforms. The Minister also intends to allocate a regular window and column in the local and Arab press, in addition to awareness campaigns in Palestinian and Arab schools that highlight the reality of Palestinian women. The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy will issue a postage stamp titled ‘Jerusalem, the Capital of Arab Women’ for advocacy, and circulate it locally, regionally and internationally.”
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