A new report from the UN Human Rights Council Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel has shed a harsh spotlight on the impact of gender-based violence and reproductive rights violations faced by Palestinian women.
The findings, outlined ahead of the monthly Illawarra Palestinian Women’s Breakfast, which will be held on Thursday, March 20 highlight the urgent need for international action to protect women’s health and dignity in conflict zones.
The report documents a “deplorable” increase in sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinian women and girls, particularly since October 2023.
Testimonies from survivors detail acts of forced stripping, sexual harassment, and threats of rape.
The Commission’s Chair, Navi Pillay, states that “there is no escape from the conclusion that Israel has employed sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians to terrorise them and perpetuate a system of oppression that undermines their right to self-determination.”
The report documents the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities across Gaza, including the targeting of maternity wards and essential medical services, leaving women without access to safe childbirth and postnatal care.
The siege on Gaza has also restricted access to life-saving medical supplies, preventing access to reproductive healthcare and leading to fatal complications for pregnant women and newborns.
The report highlights the severe risks faced by pregnant Palestinian women due to lack of access to medical care. It outlines cases where women have died due to a lack of basic medical assistance and states these actions violate women’s and girls’ reproductive rights, their right to life, health, and protection from inhumane treatment.
It also reveals a sharp increase in female fatalities due to indiscriminate attacks on residential areas. It documents an increasing proportion of female fatalities in Gaza, including maternity patients and women of all ages, due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas.
The UN Commission has listed a series of recommendations for the Israeli government, including:
- End violence against women and ensure their protection under international law.
- Restore Gaza’s healthcare system by focusing on maternal and reproductive health services.
- Allow humanitarian aid to reach affected communities without restriction.
- Investigate and prosecute cases of sexual and gender-based violence.
- Cooperate with international legal bodies to ensure justice and accountability.
Executive Director of the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, Sally Stevenson, said the findings of this report serve as a reminder of the urgent need to protect women’s health and human rights in conflict zones.
“At the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, we stand in solidarity with women everywhere who face violence and injustice,” she said.
“We call on the Australian Government and the international community, including Australia’s key ally, the USA, to stop this war crime and ensure that Palestinian women receive the care, protection, and justice they deserve. Women’s health and dignity must never be used as a weapon of war.”
The monthly Illawarra Palestinian Women’s Breakfast will be held on Thursday, March 20. Normally held at 7am in Stuart Park, North Wollongong, this month the meeting will be online at 5am (out of respect for Palestinian women partaking in Ramadan).
The breakfast is a partnership between the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, Wollongong Friends of Palestine, and the South Coast Labour Council.
For a link to the breakfast email: sallys@womenshealthcentre.com.au
Make a cuppa, enjoy the pre-dawn and join us in solidarity.
