In December 2016, The Center for Women’s Legal Researches, Counselling and Protection (CWLRCP) in Gaza has been working on the economic empowerment of women survivors of violence through a unique initiative that combines economic empowerment with protection from gender-based violence. As part of the “Supporting Sustainable Empowerment and Protection Services for Victims and Survivors of Violence” project, implemented by the CWLRCP in partnership with UN Women and funded by Spanish Cooperation, financial grants were awarded to four small projects, benefiting 10 women who are beneficiaries of the “Hayat” project for the protection and empowerment of women and families in Gaza.

The project aims to improve the integration of women survivors of violence and women with disabilities into society by providing them with social, economic, psychological, and legal support, thereby contributing to improving the status of women and ensuring the full inclusion of survivors of gender-based violence in society.

Project Coordinator, Engineer Sanabel Abu Saeed, indicated that the grants aim to continue providing integrated and multi-purpose services to women victims and survivors of violence. She stated that the project went through several stages, with beneficiaries being selected based on the field of work of each project, as well as their interests, skills, and previous experience. This was followed by a training course on “Management of Small Productive Projects” to equip them with the necessary skills to manage and develop their small businesses.

The trainer, Consultant Engineer Ibtisam Salem, trained the beneficiaries, focusing on topics such as the foundations and principles of management, marketing skills, economic feasibility studies for projects, and accounting. At the end of the training, the trainees developed work plans for their projects.

Engineer Sanabel explained that the beneficiaries began working last November to prepare their joint projects, which consist of four small projects ranging from a design, sewing, and embroidery project and ready-made clothing sales; a hairdressing and beauty project; a fitness center project; and a photography and video editing project. These projects are now operational.

It is worth noting that this project is the first implemented by the CWLRCP concerning economic empowerment activities for women, targeting girls and women who are victims and survivors of gender-based violence and who are beneficiaries of the “Hayat” project for the protection and empowerment of women and families. “Hayat” is a project of The Center for Women’s Legal Researches, Counselling and Protection (CWLRCP) established as a multi-purpose center aimed at protecting women from gender-based violence in the Gaza Strip and empowering them to reintegrate into their families and society.