In May 1989, prominent female Israeli and Palestinian political figures and activists met in Brussels for a series of meetings to discuss the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and the impact of it on all citizens, Israeli and Palestinian.

These meetings were carried out until 1991 under the auspices of the European Union, and dialogue was based on the recognition of the right of all individuals in the region to live in a safe environment with dignity, free from persecution and human rights abuses.

From these meetings, a core group of nine Palestinian women activists took the initiative to establish the Jerusalem Center for Women with the aim of empowering Palestinian women's position in civil society, politics, and within the peace process.

JCW immediately began involving and engaging hundreds of Palestinian women interested in working towards the protection and advancement of women and human rights. The group grew substantially within its first few years, and formed a General Assembly to guide and coordinate JCW. In the spring of 1994, following several meetings 13 women were elected to the first Board of Directors and JCW became a registered non governmental organization in East Jerusalem with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior.

Since its inception, JCW has empowered thousands of Palestinian women by training female community leaders, activists, young professionals and politicians; provided legal assistance to families at risk of having their homes demolished; and advocated on a local and international level for women’s rights and an end to occupation.