Gender Equality Israel Project #18766

Jusur Expanding Arab Women's Spheres of Influence

by Kayan - Feminist Organization

Jusur Expanding Arab Women's Spheres of Influence

Summary

The program mobilizes Palestinian women citizens of Israel as social change agents and community leaders through long-term investment in the development of women's leadership. Members of the national Jusur (Bridges) Forum come together from 20 villages to exchange experiences, network, engage in mutual learning, and implement activities on the national level, with the aim of promoting the active participation of Palestinian women in public life and putting women's issues on the national agenda.

$2,785
total raised

31
donors

0
monthly donors

11
years

Challenge

Arab women are discriminated as women in a patriarchal society, and as a national minority, suffering from personal and economic insecurity, domestic violence, and expected to remain in the private sphere, taking on the traditional gender role. They have limited access to education, employment, health services. Arab women are excluded from decision-making at all levels, beginning from decision-making within their homes, and continuing to decision-making in community and in local public sphere.

Solution

Jusur National Forum (45 women from 20 villages), ensures the sustainability of community-based initiatives for social change. Members engage in exchange of experiences, critical discussions on burning issues, plan joint national activities, and challenge their systemic exclusion from public spheres and from decision-making positions. This model is unique and it is the only forum of such scope in Israel, bringing together women from many different locations and socio-economic backgrounds.

Long-Term Impact

Women will be recognized as equal stakeholders and full participants in the public sphere. We aim to mainstream women's rights and gender-inclusive decision-making within all of the Arab local authorities in Israel, resulting in Arab women's self-representation in local and national governance, increased budget allocations to promote their status, and improved civil and human rights actualization. We envision a just society, where Arab women enjoy equitable opportunities for self-actualization.