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The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

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een no previous record. And on July 21, again at the Khan Yunis stadium,<br />

some 1500 children gathered <strong>to</strong> unveil a canvas that covered<br />

5,922.2 square metres, smashing the previous record by over a thous<strong>and</strong><br />

square metres.<br />

Finally, on July 28, 13,000 children taking part in UNRWA’s Gaza Summer<br />

Games crowned a golden season by smashing a fourth by becom -<br />

ing the largest number <strong>of</strong> people <strong>to</strong> fly kites simultaneously, breaking<br />

the previous record <strong>of</strong> 10,465 kites flown in China in 2011.<br />

Equality in Action<br />

<strong>The</strong> Gender Initiative<br />

<strong>The</strong> declining economic, security, <strong>and</strong> social circumstances in Gaza have<br />

had a negative impact <strong>and</strong> have left women <strong>and</strong> girls particularly vulner -<br />

able. Across the Gaza Strip, UNRWA’s grassroots gender project focuses<br />

on achieving equality through domestic violence prevention, training<br />

<strong>and</strong> education for local organizations <strong>and</strong> enhancing women’s participation<br />

in their community. Since 2008, the project has provided recreation -<br />

al <strong>and</strong> skills-building activities for tens <strong>of</strong> thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> women. UNRWA<br />

works for women by establishment <strong>of</strong> UNRWA Gaza <strong>Women</strong>’s Committee<br />

(UGWC), <strong>of</strong>ficially launched on March 8, 2008 during celebrating<br />

<strong>of</strong> International <strong>Women</strong>’s Day. This Committee contributes <strong>to</strong> foster<br />

equality <strong>and</strong> equity amongst staff by providing UNRWA female staff with<br />

mechanisms through which their voices are more <strong>of</strong>ten <strong>and</strong> more clearly<br />

heard. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Women</strong>’s Committee works <strong>to</strong> promote an institutional culture<br />

that respects <strong>and</strong> adheres <strong>to</strong> the values <strong>of</strong> gender equality. It seeks<br />

<strong>to</strong> provide <strong>to</strong>ols <strong>to</strong> help woman employees improve their day-<strong>to</strong>-day<br />

work life <strong>and</strong> explore future opportunities <strong>to</strong> develop themselves pr<strong>of</strong>essionally.<br />

UGWC empowers female staff <strong>to</strong> reach their fullest potentials<br />

by providing them with different kinds <strong>of</strong> training courses according<br />

<strong>to</strong> their assessed needs, such as courses in computer science, English<br />

<strong>and</strong> stress management, in order <strong>to</strong> help them <strong>to</strong> cope with the stress<br />

at work <strong>and</strong> at home, <strong>and</strong> with the requirements <strong>of</strong> social life.<br />

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