When we were introduced to the regional network of Karama 20 years ago, it made a real difference. We met activist women who were from countries that were suffering then - Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Palestine. These countries were going through real suffering, while we were in Palestine and Iraq were the only countries in this network that were under occupation, and Palestine still is under occupation.

Working together, hearing the stories of these countries, telling our stories, was an empowering experience. It empowered us to seek and to discuss and to brainstorm about what could and should we do as women in the Arab region. 

The second thing that was very important in joining Karama was the participation not only regionally, but also internationally. This has been especially the case with participating at the Commission on the Status of Women. Organizsing delegations to New York every year, finding ways to influence member state delegations, the missions, the UN itself, to inform them of our needs, of our struggle, and the support that is needed in this part of the world. We have been able to tell decision makers what it will take for women to empower themselves, for youth to be empowered. 

We have been able to try our best to document the stories and the struggle of women; of women who were targeted, either domestically or by occupying powers. We heard from Iraqi women who would tell their stories, women who had to leave their country in order to survive. We heard the stories also of the Libyan women who were very active during the revolution, but then, after the revolution ceased, how the fanatic militias targeted activist women - like the example of Salwa, who was murdered because she was running for election.

I give Karama the credit for making us part of a regional network of women, and at the same time an international network of women. I think most of the women who are working with Karama give credit for what it did for us. We still need to work more on empowering ourselves in our own communities, because the obstacles are not only from occupying powers, for example. It is also domestic. We need to be in the decision-making positions. 

Women are needed here because the perspective of women in dealing with peace negotiations and such processes, are different than when it is men who sit aton the table and discuss the agenda. Especially when women and children pay the price, the heavy price, in all war zones in the world.

Karama's connections to international organizations, and Karama's connections in the Arab world have made a difference for all of us.

It also helped build up coalitions between different organizations in the Arab world and also with women organizations internationally. It is a feeling of empowerment that we have when we meet together as women from countries in the Arab region, and when we meet with women from the international community. It gives us hope that we will continue, that they will support our struggle, and we will continue our work locally, so that we can advance the position of women in all levels of power.

These are women who are working to make a difference. We are talking about changing legislation in favor of women, especially when we're talking about women joining peace talks, about elections to Parliament. We want more women. We need affirmative action, we need a quota, for ensuring the participation of women. 

With the help of Karama, we were able to help women who wanted to run for municipal elections. We trained them through a project supported by Karama, a wider project with international partners, to train women how to approach and how to talk to the public. It trained them how to present their plans in campaigning.

After this work, we had a few women who did very well, and who were heading municipal elections. But for a long period of time, since 2006, the political situation meant we did not have Palestinian legislative council elections.

We’re hoping now that once the ceasefire is finally achieved, that we will have presidential and parliamentary elections. 

This is where we stand now, and of course, it's not only true in Palestine that women need more support and empowerment, but also it is in a lot of countries in the region. Women still are underprivileged, and not represented as should be, when women form 50% of the population in our communities and every country.

Karama has been able to support work to ensure women participate in negotiations, participate in elections, and also in trying to change legislation for women. There have been so many laws that give effect to discrimination against women. Laws concerning divorced women, single mothers who are raising their children, because either the husband is imprisoned or is martyred, or if he divorced his wife and could not provide for the children and the wife after the divorce. It's tough to change legislation, but it was important to create a referral system in a special institution where women can go and complain about these issues.

It has been very tough because there are reactionary forces that do not want women to have more freedom.