While there is an increase in the challenges that face young people globally, such as environmental pollution and unemployment, Palestinian youth face multiple challenges combined with the sensitive political and humanitarian situation, which impedes general progress, especially at the social, economic, and political levels. As Palestinian youth account for 22 percent of the Palestinian population, these young people will be the leaders and service providers of the next generation. Across the globe, youth are integrated in decision- and policy-making processes, which makes it possible for youth representatives to voice their concerns, propose initiatives, and analyze policies that target youth. Therefore, the European Union, the United Nations, the Representative Office of Denmark, and other key stakeholders have supported the establishment of the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) in Palestine. The 19 young people who form YAP come from a variety of backgrounds and distinguished experience and are from various locations – eight members from the West Bank, two from East Jerusalem, and nine from Gaza. They came together to break the political and geographical division and to unify Palestinian youth across the country. With a motto of “Youth for All, All for Youth,” YAP’s main mission is to strive to ensure that the voices of Palestinian youth are heard in the decision-making processes that affect them. YAP members will focus on reaching Palestinian youth across Palestine to create a network among the Palestinian youth and to analyze their needs. Moreover, they will also be consulted by donor organizations before and during the implementation of programs and will focus on promoting civic services. Since October 2021, YAP members have been consulted on strategic plans and future programs for youth by donor organizations. Furthermore, YAP members participate in intensive trainings on Palestinian identity, diplomacy, and the impact of politics on the social and economic aspects of Palestine. These capacity-building workshops will equip YAP members with a well-rounded knowledge of the prime issues that face Palestinian youth while also developing their interpersonal and technical skills. In February of this year, YAP members from Gaza were able to join their fellow team members in the West Bank for a capacity-building group training. It was the first time that many of the YAP members from Gaza were able to visit the West Bank. “None of us believed that we would ever come here. Usually the only reason that people from Gaza are able to visit the West Bank is if they are dying and are fortunate enough to get a medical permit,” one of them states. The visit and in-person group training was a mark of unity and hope. With the surge in unemployment, environmental pollution, human rights violations, an increase in the number of persons with disabilities and their limited inclusion, as well as so many other core problems, we members of YAP are prepared to combine our love for Palestine with our passion for change in order to improve the Palestinian community. “Youth for All, All for Youth” is truly the chant all Palestinians should be able to hear and feel, and we pledge to work towards making it a reality.

The year 2021 was a turning point in the Palestine Mine Action Center’s (PMAC) work, specifically their visibility in the field and conducting wider awareness campaigns against the dangers of explosive remnants of war (ERW). With the continued support of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Palestine Programme, PMAC was able to launch and implement explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) sessions for women, men, boys, and girls in 15 areas across the West Bank. This is the first time the PMAC implemented EORE sessions through a volunteer network. UNMAS provided support and advice to the PMAC in identifying the selected volunteers, of which 70% were women. Diana Abu Znaid, a 22-year-old university student, was one of the volunteers trained to deliver  EORE to school students and  farmers as  well as participated  in a street campaign in the Hebron Governorate.   Diana said, “When I applied to participate as a volunteer in awareness campaigns about explosive remnants of war, my goal was university cooperative work, but my goal quickly changed, especially after I received the training in delivering EORE sessions. I felt the importance of my role in serving my community and I should be part of this community awareness.” When describing her experience as a young female volunteer, she noted, "I felt very confident in myself, and I felt that I was sufficiently responsible to be part of this risk education. I became a strong and independent woman capable of providing awareness to men, women, and children. It is a wonderful feeling to transfer knowledge and awareness to others, especially to children and people in marginalized areas who are not aware of the dangers of explosive remnants of war."  In some situations, the presence of a female volunteer ensures that in vulnerable communities, women and children can be reached through targeting women’s and family centers. In other situations, UNMAS has found that mixed gender teams work best as they can increase the efficiency and effectiveness in delivering EORE to communities for a coherent and multidimensional response to the different needs and priorities of women, girls, boys, and men.  Throughout 2021, UNMAS continued to provide technical advice and guidance to the PMAC in the West Bank and adapted the methods of capacity building and developing  awareness materials and educational messages so that the provision of EORE promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women. As a whole, PMAC has made progress toward mainstreaming gender in a number of areas, particularly in EORE and community liaison.  Diana shared some of the challenges she faced in this context as a volunteer when first learning about EORE and ERW and understanding the issues and challenges in the West Bank. UNMAS technically supported the PMAC by training the PMAC EORE staff to be trainers volunteers, like Diana, to conduct EORE sessions. Diana’s favorite quote is "we are all one hand to maintain a conscious and safe society." Diana faced challenges in accessing the targeted areas, but this didn't stop her. She was inspired by what she was doing, because she believes each of us are responsible to serve the community regardless of age, gender, or challenges faced. During 2021, PMAC with the support of UNMAS delivered a total of 400 EORE sessions to over 10,000 direct beneficiaries. In addition, the project reached many more indirect beneficiaries through EORE activities, including a billboard campaign, video game app, and radio broadcasts of EORE messages. Diana is just one of the many young female volunteers who are strong and independent women capable of delivering EORE and just need the opportunity to discover themselves, build their capabilities, and empower themselves.

Hebron, 25 March 2022 – Under the auspices of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, the High Judicial Council, the Representative Office of Canada and the United Nations Development Programme marked the inauguration of the Hebron Courthouse and Prosecution building today. The courthouse, funded by the Government of Canada for CAD $32 million, will enhance access to justice for approximately 359,000 people from Hebron and surrounding areas. In his opening remarks, His Excellency Chief Justice Issa Abu Sharar thanked the Government of Canada and UNDP for making this project possible. “For many years the Hebron judiciary was facing a challenge of providing an appropriate environment for litigation until the construction of the Hebron courthouse was completed. The space now takes into consideration judicial and gender requirements and respects the provision of the law image,” he added. The new courthouse, built to be a model for future court designs in the West Bank, houses the First Instance, Magistrate and Appeal courts, Public Prosecution Service, and the Judicial Police Services over a gross floor area of approximately 16,050 square meters. Its construction has generated approximately 66,339 workdays (530,718 working hours) for people in the Hebron and southern area of the West Bank. Lynn Hastings, United Nations Resident Coordinator, underlined that "Justice is a prerequisite for people’s trust in institutions – not only from within societies but from the view of partners around the world. Without that trust, peace and security and even economic development will not flourish." The Hebron courthouse is considered the second largest court in terms of caseloads, after Ramallah’s main courthouse. The project will allow the Hebron courts to handle more cases, hence increasing the efficiency of the justice system, and reducing the existing backlog. The courthouse has dealt with approximately 51,705 cases during 2021. In her remarks, the Representative of Canada in Ramallah, Ms Robin Wettlaufer, noted that this flagship initiative will increase access to justice services for Palestinians. “Inclusive and safe access to justice services for all citizens is a building block for a just society. Therefore, considerations for vulnerable groups, including women, girls and juveniles, were taken into account. This includes privacy and protection features to ensure that sensitive cases, including those related to gender-based violence, are managed appropriately.” Equipped to meet international architectural standards, the courthouse utilizes photovoltaic solar panels on the roof and rainwater harvesting, as well as building automation and digitalization to minimize energy consumption and maximize the efficiency and quality of services provided. The court floor plans were organised around the central courtrooms, allowing the public, judges, jury, and persons in custody to enter from separate areas, ensuring safety and security for all court users. Gender was also a fundamental consideration during the design and construction phases of the project. The new Hebron Courthouse ensures that the privacy needs of women and girls, as well as men and boys, have been appropriately taken into consideration. This has put the needs of the courthouse users at the heart of project. UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator, Yvonne Helle, thanked the Government of Canada for their partnership and highlighted that the building has an assertive civic quality and an important location. “The courthouse is a place where life changing decisions are handed down. So to have a place that is accessible, modern and user-friendly is really important,” she added.   The ceremony, which took place at the new premises of the Hebron Courthouse on 25 March 2022, was attended by H.E. Chief Justice Issa Abu Sharar; Attorney General Akram Al Khatib, H.E. Minister of Justice Dr Mohammed al-Shalaldeh, Deputy Special Coordinator, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms Lynn Hastings, the Representative of Canada in Ramallah, Ms Robin Wettlaufer, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator Ms Yvonne Helle, as well as members of the bar association, the judiciary, Palestinian police, and local and international community.

Women, girls, and families in this Palestinian city can now enjoy a new safe, inclusive, and accessible public space entitled the “Haya Promenade” designed exclusively for them. The promenade, inaugurated earlier this month, was led by UN-Habitat, through the HAYA Joint Programme funded by the Government of Canada, UN-Habitat, in close cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government, Khan Younis Municipality, and the Palestinian Housing Council. The design of the promenade began early this year following a city-wide public space assessment measuring the quality of 134 public spaces in Khan Younis and the limitations affecting the use of these spaces by women and girls. With 14 per cent of Khan Younis public spaces associated with high levels of harassment and crime and 50 per cent deemed unsafe by residents, safe public spaces are especially needed. Located by the Mediterranean Sea, the new promenade provides a comfortable space where the city’s more than 200,000 women and girls can easily and safely exercise their rights to the city. Engaging various groups within the Khan Younis community, design of the promenade included the assistance of four architectural university students through site-specific assessments and innovative tools and approaches to engage the local community, such as utilizing the Minecraft computer game. These approaches included the participation of 40 young community representatives, promoting their skills and knowledge in decision making and leadership. “Standing in the garden where each element is inspired by our designs, I can say that this unique experience has encouraged our interest and willingness to participate in community development and other types of public engagement,” says 17-year-old community representative Reem Bashir. “We are very proud of our contribution in decreasing the gender-based violence in our city by designing safe and inclusive public spaces.” One of the most disadvantaged areas in terms of infrastructure and public facilities, the 8.2-kilometre coastal area of Khan Younis previously lacked a safe, well-designed public space for women and girls to engage in social activities. Zeyad Elshakra, Head of UN-Habitat Country Programme in Palestine, stressed the importance of these spaces. “We emphasize our commitment to building a better, sustainable, and inclusive urban environment that promotes the equal use and enjoyment of cities without discrimination of any kind, especially for the most marginalized segments in the society, namely women and girls.” Khan Younis Municipality Mayor Alaa El Batta emphasised the importance of new partnerships with local and international organisations in implementing development projects serving the most marginalized segments of the community, particularly women and girls. “We should provide a space for youth and women to raise their voices and advance their right to being a vital part of the development process,” says El Batta. “This newly inaugurated public space serves as great evidence that the development process can be more successful when local communities are heavily engaged in the planning and implementation processes.” The Haya Promenade promotes equity and inclusiveness for women and girls, as well as children and people with disabilities, through provision of adequate facilities such as baby care rooms, accessible bathrooms, and service rooms. Environmental and social factors, as well as continuous operation and maintenance, were also taken into consideration throughout the design process to ensure the long-term sustainability and longevity of the promenade. Through the development of gender-responsive policies and strategies, UN-Habitat continues to strive to strengthen the capacity of national and local governments to promote safe, inclusive, accessible, and gender-based violence-free public spaces. About the HAYA Joint Programme The HAYA Joint Programme seeks to eliminate violence against women in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. HAYA is funded by the Government of Canada and is jointly implemented by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–Habitat), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development as well as other ministries and civil society organizations.