ActionAid partners report a rise in violence against women in Gaza, as collapse of legal systems leave survivors without access to justice
Women-led organisations in Gaza have reported a rise in cases of violence against women and girls and increased demand for their services, at the same time as survivors lack access to justice due to the collapse of the legal system amid the ongoing war.
As the world marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, women and girls in Gaza are facing violence on multiple fronts. Near daily attacks by the Israeli military are killing women and girls at an unprecedented rate: women and children make up almost 70% of the death toll and 75% of the injured, according to the UN.
At the same time, staff at ActionAid Palestine’s partner organisation Wefaq Society for Women and Child Care (WEFAQ) say that instances of gender-based violence such as domestic abuse have increased, as families come under strain due to the loss of their jobs or savings, or the stress of repeated displacement. Cases of verbal and sexual harassment are also on the rise in the overcrowded and unsafe sites where most women have been displaced to amid the war.
Asmaa, 40, who works for WEFAQ, said: “Women [have been] majorly affected by the war as they are subjected to violence in different shapes and forms. Violence on women and girls [has been] increasing as the war [has] progressed, whether it [is] domestic violence or violence coming from the Israeli forces. We’ve noticed an increase in [mental health] problems, and domestic violence. A lack of privacy in shelters can lead to verbal and sexual harassment, [even] from the service providers themselves. These incidents are increasing. This has been recorded throughout our work during visits to displacement shelters and camps for women.
“My team and I are part of the displaced women of the community, so we are faced with trauma and ongoing issues on a daily basis. Despite all that, we power through to help other women who live in the same conditions as us.”
A recent report, which gave a snapshot of gender-based violence reporting trends in Gaza over the month of September, found that the most commonly reported type of violence was the denial of services, resources and opportunities; this was followed by physical assault and emotional and psychological abuse.
Yet at the same time as violence is increasing, women and girls are losing access to vital support. Repeated forced displacements and communications challenges have left many women without consistent information about what support is available and many safe spaces for women have had to close, while the collapse of the judicial system due to the war has denied them opportunities to seek justice or secure their legal rights.
Sahar is head of the Palestinian Development Women Studies Association (PDWSA), ActionAid’s partner in Gaza, which provides practical and psychological support to survivors of violence. She describes her deep frustration in being unable to help a woman hold her abuser accountable.
She said:
“A widowed woman who lost her husband in the war came to me. She lives in a camp. A person who was supposed to be a source of security and support for her would break into her tent after 1am and try to harass her. The woman was afraid and confused and felt trapped, not just because of the abuse she was subjected to, but also because of her fear of stigmatisation and revenge, should she try to report that perpetrator.
“The biggest challenge for us was to find a way to protect her without exposing her to greater danger. We worked intensively and quickly to ensure the safety of the woman. The first step was to provide a safe and confidential listening session where the woman was able to express her experience with comfort and without fear. After that...the woman was moved to a safe place.’
“The perpetrator should have been punished for his actions. However, due to the absence of the law and the disruption of institutions due to the ongoing war on Gaza, we did not have any legal mechanism to ensure that justice is achieved. The absence of legal punishment and our awareness that the perpetrator would remain unpunished was extremely frustrating, especially since this might encourage others to commit the same crimes. I carry pain because of the injustice that women are subjected to in such circumstances, as they are forced to live with psychological wounds while the perpetrators escape punishment.”
Despite the immense challenges in supporting survivors during the ongoing war in a way that guarantees their safety and dignity, Sahar said the work of women like her was making an impact. So far in 2024, 2,225 women have benefitted from PDWSA’s work, she said, such as by attending awareness raising sessions on how to combat violence against women or receiving individual or group psychological support.
“Every day in this work [there] is an opportunity to make a difference, however small, in the lives of these women and rebuild bridges of hope and trust that violence has destroyed,” Sahar said. “I understand the extent of the pain and struggles that these women live through so I want to be not only a listening ear but also a supportive hand that helps these women regain their self-confidence.”
Riham Jafari, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator at ActionAid Palestine, says: “It’s a tragic fact that in times of crisis, instances of gender-based violence always increase, and the situation in Gaza is no different. Our partner organisations are working against the odds to support survivors and women and girls at risk, despite having incredibly limited resources, but providing safety, securing justice and recovering from violence is simply possible amid a warzone. Women, girls and everyone trapped in Gaza desperately need an end to this crisis and a permanent ceasefire, now.”
For more photos and testimonies, or to interview Riham Jafari or other spokespeople, please contact the press office at: [email protected] or on 07753 973 486
