Annual Report 2019 Dr. Taleb Awad, the Head of Board of Directors of the PCPD is always present at PCPD activities and is one of the prominent fgures who conducts lectures and sessions to the PCPD youth on a voluntary basis. At the start of 2019, Dr. Taleb Awad gave a political session entitled: the Palestinian Elections within the Constitutional Court’s decision. It is worth mentioning that Dr. Awad is an international expert in the issues of elections. PCPD is proud to have Dr. Awad heading the organization. The theme of the work for 2019 was “Gender Equality”, and the slogan that PCPD used in its activities was: Girls Equal Boys PCPD board of directors escorted PCPD staf in its feld activities. Ms. Tagreed Kishik, the deputy of the Head of Board along with Ms. Hilda Issa, the executive director hold a portrait that was distributed on the occasion of the 8th March; the International Woman’s Day. Annual Report 2019 1 An Overview of the Political events were given the utmost attraction of all the world. The Arab Summit was conducted Situation on the 31st of March 2019 where the Arab leaders put their priorities. The frst priority Since the beginning of the project activities, was the situation of Iran as the main enemy the political situation was difcult for the for the Arabs; then the issue of terrorism and Palestinian; the Americans and the Israelis fnally the Palestinian question; which was not were preparing themselves for the opening any more on the top of the Arabs’ agenda. of the American Embassy in Jerusalem. The United States Trump Administration In Israel, the right wing won the elections came up with the so called peace plan of twice, but they were unable to formulate the “Deal of the Century” at the start of the government and as a result the elections 2017, and he ended the year on December will be conducted again for the third time in 6,2017 by his recognition of Jerusalem as March 2020. All the indicators show that the the capital of Israel that generated a series right wing will win the elections again and the of reactions in Palestine and on the global new Israeli government will not be interested level. The Embassy’s opening coincided with in peace, on the contrary, they will be the bloodiest day of the 2018 Gaza border demanding the implementation of the Deal protests, with more than 57 Palestinians killed. of the Century that confscates the Palestinian This US decision contravenes international rights of establishing their state. law and in particular the resolutions of the Security Council and the UN General Currently, there are Palestinian-Palestinian Assembly. talks about Presidential and legislative elections to be conducted in 2020; however At the start of the project activities non-violent only 50% trust and 44% do not trust the acts of mass mobilization were taking place integrity and capacity of the Palestinian Election Commission to successfully manage in Gaza not just about underscoring the Right the election process. Trust in the integrity of Return for Palestinian refugees and capacity of the election commission is (as enshrined in international law), nor higher in the Gaza Strip (52%) compared to about commemorating Land Day, an event the West Bank (49%)”, voters don’t trust the that has united all Palestinians since the Palestinian security forces to guarantee the bloody protests of 1976. The protest was fairness of elections where ”only 48% trust, about reclaiming the agenda, transcending and 46% do not trust, the ability of the West political infghting and giving voice back to Bank Palestinian police to protect the election process and the ballot boxes with integrity the people. and without bias. Similarly, only 47% trust, and 41% do not trust, the ability of the Gaza Strip police force to protect the election As for the economic situation, it was also process and the ballot boxes with integrity and without bias”. difcult since the number of unemployed people in Palestine reached one million, This crucial situation has afected the activities all economists and politicians describe the of the PCPD positively where the targeted situation as a serious crisis that needs urgent youth were interested to understand the interference and urgent solutions. This political situation because they were and still situation refected itself on the majority of the are anxious toward having a role in decision- Palestinian who have gone into the streets making since they believe that one major striking against the new social security law; reason for the American interference is the which is unjust to the Palestinians in general continuation of the separation between and women in particular. the West Bank and Gaza. The youth are not satisfed with the Palestinian classic leaders Since the beginning of 2019, the political who couldn’t defend their people, who situation was difcult and complicated couldn’t fnd jobs for the unemployed and where the cold war between America and who couldn’t face the Israeli and the American Iran accelerated, as well as the destroying policies. war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. These 2 Palestinian Centre for Peace and Democracy The clans are becoming stronger and Bethlehem who was beaten to death by her powerful, where Israel had a role in that, since family members). All these fears made the they handed the corpses of the martyrs to the clans fght CEDAW, demand the Palestinian heads of the clans, a step that empowered Authority to withdraw from the membership them. Further, the Palestinian public believe in this international agreement; demand the that the clans contribute in allowing the close of women NGOs and demand the youth Palestinians to get work permits in Israel, and to stop attending activities by the NGOs in one of the activists at PCPD was prohibited Palestine. This stand makes the participation by his family to be engaged with PCPD due of youth in street activities risky; at a time to the fear that his activism will negatively when the Palestinian Authority is silent. We, at afect other youngsters of his extended PCPD were aware of the role of the patriarchal family in getting permits to work in Israel. The society and were always shedding light on this clans in Hebron started in mid-December a power that do not believe in women rights campaign against CEDAW, and it is spreading nor in equality. The clans want girls to be in Jerusalem and the West Bank. This clannish married at an early age and don’t want them and tribal campaign is due to the fear of these to inherit, nor be part of the electoral, political clans representing the patriarchal society to and economic processes in Palestine, but the concept of equality in CEDAW; afraid of they want these girls to be mothers and bring determine the age of marriage of women; big number of children. What is worrying is afraid of equality in heritance between that in the upcoming expected elections to boys and girls, and are worried of the street take place, the clans will use political slogans activities against killing of women, especially against women and against CEDAW, and this the last movements done by the civil society will give them more votes and will afect the in the case of Isra’ (a young woman from diferent roles of women in the society. Annual Report 2019 3 PCPD General Assembly: PCPD was founded in 1992 by the following fgures: • Mr. Bashir Barghouti (passed away) • Dr. Tayseer Arouri (passed away) • Dr. Sameer Abdulla • Dr. Tamer Essawi • Mr. Hana Amira In addition to that, the PCPD has a general assembly of 33 members, who elect the Board of Directors. The staf is the executive body of the organisation; followed by a big number of young volunteers (PCPD Youth Supporters) who together with the staf conduct various innovative interventions to advocate for the mission and vision of the organisation. PCPD GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 1- Ms. Sona Arouri 12- Ms. Fadwa Khader 23- Ms. Hana Sahel 2- Mr. Abbas Milhem 13- Ms. Yasmeen Enaya 24- Ms. Ann Ankar 3- Dr. Talib Awad 14- Mr. Aref Jafal 25- Ms. Shahrazad Tmazi 4- Ms. Shola Abed Hadi 15- Ms. Sahhar Barakat 26- Ms. Hazar Ismael 5- Mr. Muhammad Saleem 16- Mr. Ameen Enabi 27- Ms. Nadia Harb 6- Mr. Hashem Barahma 17- Ms. Haneen Zeidan 28- Mr. Khaleel Sheeha 7- Mr. Thaer Hanaysha 18- Ms. Neda Abu Sibah 29- Mr. Emad Daoud 8- Mr. Ghassan Abdulla 19- Mr. Naeem Al-Ashhab 30- Ms. Sabreen Amouri 9- Mr. Waleed Maqbul 20- Ms. Intisar Salman 31- Ms. Nina Thabet 10- Mr. Issa Samandar 21- Mr. Munther Qareq 11- Ms. Enas Maswada 22- Ms. Taghreed Kishek During March 2018, PCPD general assembly met and elected a new board of directors that consisted of 9 members. Out of the 9, there are 5 women. Two of these women took major positions at the board, where the treasurer and the deputy to the head are women. PCPD BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1- Dr. Taleb Awad – Head of Board 6- Ms. Shahrazad Tmazi – member 2- Ms. Tagreed Kisek – Deputy to the Chairwoman 7- Ms. Fadwa Khader – member 3- Ms. Hana Sahal – Treasurer 8- Mr. Aref Jafal – member 4- Mr. Walid Maqbul – Secretary 9- Ms. Sona Arouri – member 5- Mr. Issa Samandar - member 4 Palestinian Centre for Peace and Democracy PCPD STAFF: 1- Ms. Hilda Issa – Executive Director -full-time 2- Mr. Naseef Muallem – Policy Advisor -full-time 3- Ms. Ekram Zbeidi – Program Coordinator -full-time 4- Ms. Anbara Shalalda – project coordinator -part-time 5- Ms. Sana Al-Umary – project coordinator - part-time 6- Ms.