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<font size=3><b>Through Women’s Eyes: PCHR report on gender-specific
impact and consequences of Operation Cast Lead <br><br>
</b>
<a href="http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7169" eudora="autourl">
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7169<br>
</a>29.09.09 - 12:30 <br><br>
In conjunction with the presentation of the UN Fact Finding Mission’s
report to the Human Rights Council on 29 September, the Palestinian
Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) release “Through Women’s Eyes: A PCHR
Report on the Gender-Specific Impact and Consequences of Operation Cast
Lead”. <br><br>
The Israeli offensive claimed the lives of 118 women, and injured at
least 825 more. However, although the numbers of victims and casualties
illustrate the appalling human toll of this conflict, the true extent of
the suffering lies in the day-to-day reality of life in the Gaza Strip
following Operation Cast Lead, as civilians struggle to rebuild their
lives, come to terms with their loss, and restore some semblance of human
dignity.<br>
<br>
PCHR has released ‘Through Women’s Eyes’ in order to highlight the
gender-specific impact of Operation Cast Lead and the illegal Israeli
closure. As a result of the patriarchal nature of Palestinian society,
women in the Gaza Strip – victims of ‘peacetime’ discrimination – are
particularly susceptible to the marginalization, poverty, and suffering
brought about as a result of armed conflict and occupation. Israeli
attacks result in often ignored gender-specific consequences. PCHR has
chosen to allow these consequences, and the reality of life after the
offensive, unfold through the victims words; although this report is
necessarily grounded in international law, it is perhaps fitting that
human rights, and human suffering, are expressed through human
stories.<br>
<br>
This report presents the cases of 12 women affected by Israeli attacks
over the course of Operation Cast Lead. These examples are intended to
demonstrate the extent of the suffering inflicted on the individual
civilians of the Gaza Strip, and the continuing difficulties they face as
a result of the devastation wrought by Israeli forces and the ongoing
illegal closure.<br>
<br>
‘Through Women’s Eyes’ highlights the difficulties women in the Gaza
Strip face as they attempt to come to terms with their grief and their
injuries; with the loss of their children, their husbands, their
relatives, their homes, and their livelihoods. These narratives are
illustrative, not only of the trials faced by women in the Gaza Strip,
but of the resilience and strength they have demonstrated over 42 years
of conflict and occupation.<br>
<br>
‘Through Women’s Eyes’ is release as a continuation of PCHR’s work
documenting human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian
territory. With respect to Operation Cast Lead, in May PCHR released ‘War
Crimes Against Children’ a report on the killing of 318 children, while
earlier this month ‘Targeted Civilians’ PCHR’s comprehensive report on
the offensive was released in Arabic; it will be available in English
shortly.<br>
<br>
The report is available at:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/Reports/English/pdf_spec/through-women%27s%20_eyes.pdf">
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/Reports/English/pdf_spec/through-women's%20_eyes.pdf</a>
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