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Ramallah, 21 May 2025| The Technical Team for Serious Case Review, operating under the High National Committee to Combat Violence Against Women and chaired by H.E. Ms. Mona Al-Khalili, Minister of Women’s Affairs, convened a guidance workshop with support from the Sawasya Joint Programme through UN Women in Palestine.
The workshop brought together members of the technical team responsible for reviewing serious and high-risk cases of gender-based violence (GBV). It opened with keynote remarks from H.E. Minister Al-Khalili and Ms. Anouk Hilei, Deputy Special Representative of UN Women in Palestine, who both stressed the importance of establishing a unified and institutionalized national mechanism. This mechanism will ensure lessons learned from serious cases – including cases of women’s deaths under suspicious or potentially criminal circumstances – are translated into systemic improvements in protection services and accountability processes.
H.E. Minister Al-Khalili stated:
“We are committed to building institutional frameworks and national mechanisms that enable us to learn from every painful case, and to turn these lessons into actionable procedures that prevent recurrence, enhance protection, and ensure justice.”
Ms. Anouk Hilei added:
“Reviewing these sensitive cases is not only a way to identify gaps, but also a powerful tool to ensure justice and prevent impunity. It reinforces our collective commitment to a safer and more just environment for all women and girls.”
The technical team includes representatives of key service providers for survivors of genderbased violence who operate within the National Referral System. The team is mandated to analyze cases of women and girls who have died under suspicious or violent circumstances. Its goal is to conduct an impartial and thorough review of institutional responses, identify lessons learned, and support the development of a unified Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) manual.
This initiative is part of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs’ broader efforts, in collaboration with relevant sectors and stakeholders, to enhance institutional performance and improve the quality of protection services for survivors of GBV.
Sawasya has previously supported the establishment of this technical team, including the development of its terms of reference, operational procedures, and coordination frameworks. In 2016, the programme supported the review of two critical cases and the development of dedicated reports to identify key lessons and systemic gaps.
The workshop aimed to consolidate understanding of the strategic importance of serious case reviews, analyze challenges, gaps, and opportunities, and identify technical and operational requirements to ensure the team's sustainability within an institutional framework.
Participants agreed on a number of practical recommendations to strengthen coordination and improve national referral mechanisms for complex and high-risk GBV cases.
This workshop reaffirms the continued commitment of the Palestinian Government and the Sawasya Joint Programme – through UN Women – to ensuring a safe and just environment for all women and girls, and to strengthening accountability and coordinated responses to genderbased violence.
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For more information, please contact:
Fidaa Maaytah Communications Coordinator, Sawasya Joint Programme Fida.maaytah@undp.org | +972 593020717