Center for Women’s Legal Research, Counseling and Protection (CWLRCP)
The Center for Women’s Legal Research, Counseling and Protection (CWLRCP) was established in Gaza City as a non-profit company registered with the Ministry of National Economy under registration number (563141852).
CWLRCP is an independent organization founded by a group of local experts—legal professionals and activists in the fields of women’s rights and community development—who joined forces to improve the status of Palestinian women legally and socially. This mission is seen as a fundamental requirement for achieving justice, equality, and democracy in Palestinian society.
To be a leading institution in protecting women and girls from gender-based violence, and in empowering them legally, socially, and economically to access justice and achieve equality within Palestinian society.
The center is dedicated to protecting women and enabling them to access justice and uphold the rule of law in Palestinian society. It aims to eliminate discrimination against women and address the legacy of exclusion, marginalization, and violations of their legal rights as human beings. Through its programs and activities, the center engages both women and men of all age groups to raise awareness and promote a culture of gender equality across all areas of life.
The center adopts a flexible and positive philosophy aimed at raising awareness in Palestinian society. In pursuing its vision and mission, it is committed to human rights principles such as accountability, rule of law, transparency, tolerance, justice, equality, non-discrimination, participation, and the empowerment of marginalized groups. The center fosters collaborative relationships with all stakeholders—both governmental and non-governmental—while recognizing and building upon their accumulated efforts and achievements. It also actively advocates for legislative and policy reforms to institutionalize the concept of equality.
- Enhance the professional capacity of the center, legal professionals, and partner institutions.
- Promote alignment between national legislation and international human rights standards, especially those related to women’s rights.
- Empower women legally and improve their access to justice and protection from violence.
The core goals for which the center was established include:
- Advocating for national democratic legislation that guarantees equality between women and men in rights and responsibilities.
- Promoting consistency between national laws and international human rights standards, especially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
- Conducting legal studies and research, reviewing existing and draft laws, and proposing alternatives to address gaps and weaknesses in the legal framework.
- Publishing specialized studies on human and women’s rights.
- Providing effective legal protection for women in national courts and offering legal consultations to ensure this protection.
- Offering social protection and shelter services to abused women and their children.
- Providing family mediation services for women and children to promote psychological and family stability.
- Promoting women’s economic empowerment to improve their living standards.
- Raising awareness of women’s rights and human rights in Palestinian society and addressing legal illiteracy through specialized training sessions.
- Promoting the principle of separation of powers through awareness, education, and training.
- Strengthening relationships with women’s and human rights organizations locally, regionally, and internationally to support the center’s goals.
- Acquiring, owning, leasing, mortgaging, or utilizing movable and immovable property deemed necessary to fulfill the center’s objectives.
- Implementing any action approved by the board of directors that aligns with the center’s interests and goals.
- Core Values and Principles:
The center upholds the following values and principles in realizing its vision, mission, and goals:
- Professional human rights values, including transparency, initiative and innovation, participation, justice and impartiality, social responsibility, neutrality, accuracy, teamwork, commitment, integrity, credibility, and dedication.
- Equality, adherence to the rule of law, tolerance, respect, and non-discrimination.
- Active participation and empowerment of marginalized groups through developmental programs and projects.
- Commitment to developing human resources.
- Continuous improvement to ensure quality services for target groups.
- Encouraging a spirit of teamwork and volunteerism.
Direct Beneficiaries:
– Employees working in all center branches (Gaza, Central Governorate, Khan Younis).
– Abused women: married, divorced, widowed, or women with disabilities.
– Abused girls.
– Children subjected to domestic violence.
– Married men and unmarried young men.
– Legal professionals (lawyers and legal practitioners).
– Service providers in both governmental and non-governmental institutions and displacement centers (e.g., camps, schools).
Indirect Beneficiaries:
The general public of all genders across the Gaza Strip.
- The center strongly believes in collective action and effective communication with civil society organizations in Gaza and across Palestine.
- It follows a collaborative and coordinated approach with stakeholders and actively engages local organizations in its community activities to maximize outreach and awareness on women’s and human rights issues.
- It coordinates with the Ministry of Social Development to ensure access to shelter and essential services.
- It networks with health centers to provide emergency medical care to women and girls during conflict, including Al-Awda Hospital, the American Hospital, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Nasser Medical Complex, Juthoor Medical Association, and Medical Relief Society.
- The center also works with government institutions and religious courts to reduce legal and social discrimination against women, enhance access to justice, and uphold women’s rights and choices while combating violence against them.
- The center is an active member of several local and regional alliances and networks, including:
- “Amal” Coalition to Combat Violence Against Women (established in November 2009).
- National Campaign to End the Political Division in partnership with the General Union of Palestinian Women and other women’s organizations.
- National Campaign for a Personal Status Law.
- Women’s Sector in the Palestinian NGO Network.
- National Campaign to Promote Women’s Political Participation.
- The only organization from Gaza represented on the Board of the Alimony Fund in the West Bank.
- Board member of the Alimony Fund under the Sharia Judiciary Council in Gaza.
- “1325 Coalition” bringing together women’s organizations in Gaza and the West Bank, led by the General Union of Palestinian Women.
- National Women’s Coalition for the Implementation of CEDAW, led by the General Union of Palestinian Women.
- Advisory Council of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
- National Committee for the Implementation of UN Resolution 1325, led by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
- “Fada Coalition” comprising cross-border feminist organizations (1948 Territories, West Bank, and Gaza).
- ‘Awn’ Justice Network, initiated by UNDP in Palestine in 2011.
- Legal Task Force (LTF).
- Gender-Based Violence Sub-Working Group (GBV SWG).
- Global Protection Cluster.
- Founding member of the National Coalition for the Family Protection Law.
- Regional Advocacy Initiative led by the Arab Women’s Association in Jordan.
- Aisha Regional Network.
- Mediterranean Women’s Network.
- International Association of Democratic Lawyers.
The center’s involvement in these networks has expanded in response to the humanitarian crisis resulting from Israeli aggression on Gaza. It actively participates in UN-led coordination platforms to deliver various services to affected populations in both southern and northern Gaza:
– Area-based Coordination for Northern Gaza (ABC), led by OCHA.
– Active Partners – North / Protection Cluster’s Partners, led by OHCHR.
– Gaza GBV AoR Members (South Gaza), led by UNFPA.
- Policies and Operational Mechanisms:
- All founders, members, and staff are committed to teamwork based on mutual respect, professionalism, confidentiality, and effective internal communication.
- The center’s development focuses on enhancing programs and activities under the supervision of the board of directors.
- It works to strengthen public relations at the local, regional, and international levels to serve its goals.
- It operates based on long-term and short-term strategic plans, with regular reviews, evaluations, and updates to improve performance.
- The board of directors defines and oversees both general and specific policies and strategies and monitors executive performance, especially on administrative and financial matters.
- The executive management is responsible for implementing activities based on phased action plans aligned with the center’s objectives.
- The executive management includes the General Director, program managers, and staff.
- Staff recruitment is based on professional qualifications and the principle of equal opportunity, free from favoritism or interference that compromises fairness or professionalism.
- All employees enjoy professional autonomy in their work—both technically and administratively—based on their areas of expertise and the center’s needs.
