The Advocacy and Human Rights Program works to make international law relevant to the women of East Jerusalem and the West Bank – working with them to challenge and change policies that undermine human rights, empower them, and work towards rights based alternatives.

Legal Unit

In 2008 JCW continues to implement its Legal Unit which documents and gathers information regarding human rights violations in East Jerusalem and the West Bank – which include: house demolitions, the wall, land confiscations, and settlement building. Previously located in Al Walajeh, in 2008 the Legal Unit was relocated to Wadi Qadum, an area experiencing grave and ongoing human rights violations. In addition to providing legal information and assistance, the legal clinic affords a safe place for the women in the community to access information and expert advice on legal and often social matters. Women have been provided with assistance and counseling on issues including drug use, their rights under international law, and gender based societal violence.

Provided service provision continues at the current rate, 576 hours of legal information and advice, and 576 hours of counseling and social support will be provided to the women and community of Wadi Qadum in 2008. It is also expected that the legal clinic will reach approximately 300 beneficiaries throughout the year.

During the summer months, a principal activity of JCW was to provide information sessions to traveling delegations, interfaith peace builders, researchers and organizational representatives from all over the world. Topics of discussion typically relate to human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories, the affects of occupation on Palestinian women, the apartheid wall and prospects for international advocacy. These information sessions are conducted by the Public Relations Officer, together with the Legal Unit Coordinator or the Director. It is estimated that JCW has reached over 300 individuals in this

Advocacy

Current Advocacy activities – press releases

JCW Legal Publications are available here (link to publications page)

Contact the JCW Legal Team