PSCCW Concludes “WIJDAN” Project

In partnership with the Psycho-Social Counseling Center for Women (PSCCW), the Land Research Center (LRC), and the Society of St. Yves – Catholic Center for Human Rights, the closing ceremony for the project titled “Strengthening the Role of Palestinian Civil Society and Services to Promote and Protect Human Rights, Fundamental Freedoms, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (WIJDAN)” was held on October 16, 2025.

The project, which spanned a period of thirty months (2023–2025) aimed to strengthen the role of Palestinian civil society organizations in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to support human rights defenders, with a focus on empowering women and enhancing the resilience of communities affected by occupation policies in the Hebron and Bethlehem governorates.

During the ceremony, Mrs. Khawla Al-Azraq, General Director of PSCCW, expressed her pride in participating in this unique project, which reflected a distinguished model of professional partnership and institutional integration. She affirmed that the tangible results achieved represent a significant step towards realizing social and humanitarian justice in Palestine. She also called on the European Union to take responsibility in stopping the genocide against the Palestinian people and halting the annexation plans in the West Bank.

Mr. Khaled Al-Lahham, the project coordinator at the PSCCW, presented the main achievements of the 30-month-long project, including:

1. The formation of four community protection committees in the Hebron and Bethlehem governorates, comprising activists and human rights defenders from areas under threat of displacement, aimed at building effective protection mechanisms and enhancing community resilience.
2. Training more than 40 members of the protection committees in advocacy, lobbying, and using digital platforms to document violations.
3. Conducting a Training of Trainers (TOT) program for 18 employees from the PSCCW and the LRC on emergency preparedness and response mechanisms to protect human rights defenders.
4. Implementing 23 legal awareness sessions on women’s economic and entrepreneurial rights, benefiting over 609 women in Hebron and Bethlehem, thereby increasing their awareness of their rights and promoting their participation in economic and social life.
5. Providing psychological and social support services to 151 cases of gender-based violence and violations by the occupation, including women, men, and children, in accordance with the response protocols adopted by the PSCCW.
6. Conducting 25 awareness workshops targeting approximately 800 university students on the psychological and social impacts of Israeli violations and ways to promote psychological and community resilience.
7. Building the capacities of four women’s cooperatives in Hebron and Bethlehem governorates by training around 40 women in management, marketing, advocacy, and women’s rights to land and property, contributing to their economic and social empowerment.
8. Launching a comprehensive smear campaign that included the production of a short documentary film, a fact sheet, and an infographic highlighting violations in Masafer Yatta, particularly in the villages of Susiya and Umm al-Khair, aimed at raising local and international awareness and fostering solidarity with the threatened residents.

The ceremony concluded by affirming that the “WIJDAN” project served as a pioneering model of cooperation among Palestinian civil society organizations, contributing to the empowerment of marginalized groups and the protection of human rights, while reaffirming the commitment to continued joint efforts towards a more just and equitable Palestinian society.