Participants of the workshop (women journalists working in different media outlets in Rafah) recommended the need to end gender discrimination in media institutions and outlets. They stressed the need to work at the individual, societal and the institutional level to ensure women rights and equality that is the cornerstone to democracy, social justice and human rights to any society. To empower women in general, including women journalists to enjoy their rights and enhance their role in the Palestinian society.

Participants also suggested forming a pressure force that is capable of making law reforms as current laws might hinder their journalistic work taking into consideration other societal challenges.

This came at the end of a training workshop that was wrapped up today, held in Rafah, with the participation of a group of women journalists working in different media outlets, the training aimed to shed light on legal empowerment.

This training is part of a series of training workshops organized by MADA Center in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in the framework of a project in cooperation with the Representative office of Finland - Ramallah .

The workshop focused on the reality and the challenges faced by women journalists and the legal empowerment of women. The rights of Palestinian women in the local legislation system and the nature of violations against women journalists in Palestine as well as the Palestinian laws regulating media work were also discussed.

And to look at some aspects related to the customs and traditions in the Palestinian society that prevent women from enjoying their rights.

Journalist Abtihal Shorrab stressed the importance of this workshop in raising awareness and legal empowerment and building the capacity of women journalists in media organizations to deal with various types of violations they face, with a significant focus on legal awareness about the legal legislations governing the work f journalists in local laws and international standards.

Moreover, journalist Thuraya Abu Zahri stressed that the media is one of the platforms used to redress Palestinian women and defend their rights, to change the stereotype, and to abolish all forms of discrimination that limit their abilities to demand their rights through advocating these rights whether through campaigns issuance of awareness leaflets, Conferences and the formation of specialized networks of pressure and work to provide legal advice and assistance to those who need it.

As well as, documenting violations committed by public authorities of the rights of working women, especially women journalists besides, producing reports and press programs that shed light on these violations as a support to the work of Human rights organizations.

The training was given by Dr. Nabil Tahrawy, Professor of Media and Lawyer, Olfat Al-Bareem.