H.E. Dr. Awad, Highlights the Reality of Palestinian Women on the Eve of the International Women's Day, on 08/03/2023 under the title "DigitALL: Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls".

 H.E. Dr. Ola Awad, President of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), on Tuesday 07/03/2023, highlighted the reality of the Palestinian women on the eve of International Women's Day on 08/03/2023.

Women represent half of the Palestinian society

The number of females in Palestine reached 2.70 million females out of the total estimated population in mid-2023, with a percentage of about 49%, whereas the sex ratio reached 103.3; meaning that there are 103 males for every 100 females. Women headed about 12% of households in Palestine (12% in the West Bank and 11% in Gaza Strip in 2022).

Continuous Israeli violations against Palestinian women

172 women were detained in 2022, whereas 129 of them are from Jerusalem Governorate. While 29 women are still in Israeli prisons until the end of 2022, two among them are underage (children) and two detainees are under administrative detention. Also, 18 women were martyred during 2022, and one woman was martyred from the beginning of 2023 to date.

A decrease in the percentages of registered marriage contracts in the Palestinian society

There is a decrease in marriage percentages for both males and females under the age of 18, where it reached 11.5% of the females registered marriages in 2021 out of the total number of females registered marriages in the same year, while this percentage was about 24% in 2010. The percentage was less than 0.5% of males registered marriages out of the total number of males registered marriages in the same year, compared to about 2% in 2010.

The median age at first marriage in Palestine was about 26 years for males and 21 years for females in 2021.

Development in the field of education is the cornerstone and the basis of development and it achieves equity, justice, and equality between women and men

Data for the scholastic year 2021/2022 showed that the participation rate in formal education (one year before enrolling in the official elementary stage) in Palestine is approximately 73% (68% among males, and 78% among females).

Data for 2022 showed that the percentages of completion of different educational levels (lower and upper secondary education) were in favor of females reaching about 97% and 78%, respectively, while the percentages were 90% and 53% for males respectively. However, the percentages are equal between males and females for primary education completion rates, where they were 99% in the same year.

As for the percentage of female students enrolled in Palestinian higher education institutions, it reached 62% out of the total number of students enrolled in higher education institutions in 2021-2022, of whom about 10% are enrolled in the ICT major, (59% among males, and 41% among females), and about 3% are enrolled in natural sciences, mathematics and statistics         (28% among males, and 72% among females).

Women’s Access to decent jobs and ensuring their active participation on the basis of equality which lead to sustainable economic empowerment of women

Women’s participation rate in the labour force increased in 2022 compared to 2021, where it reached about 19% out of the total number of women at work age in 2022. Notably, this percentage was 17% in 2021, knowing that the rate of men's participation in the labour force reached 71% in 2022, compared to 69% in 2021.

On the other hand, the unemployment rate among women participating in the labour force was about 40% compared to 20% among men in 2022. The unemployment rate among the youth (19–29 years) graduates of those who hold Intermediate Diploma and higher reached 48% (61.3% among females compared with 34% among males). 

About 40% of wage employees in the private sector earn a monthly wage less than the minimum average wage (1,880 NIS), as the percentage was 38% for men, compared to 50% for women. Moreover, 40% of female employees hired in the private sector work without an employment contract, and 44% of them receive a contribution in financing retirement/end of the service package. On the other hand, 46% of female employees in the private sector received paid maternity leave in 2022.

According to the General Personnel Council data up to February 2023, the percentage of women's participation in the public sector reached about 48% of the total employees in the public sector. The gap is significant in the percentage of those who hold the rank of Director General and higher, where this percentage reached 14% among women compared to 86% among men.

The participation of women in decision-making, public life, and leadership positions is an essential aspect of gender equality

The percentage of women elected and appointed in the 2021-2022 local elections was 21%, compared to 79% among men. Also, the participation of women in decision-making positions is still limited compared to men's participation, as data for 2021 showed that women constitute about 23% of the members of the Central Council, 19% of the members of Palestinian National Council, and 12% of members of the Council of Ministers are women.  Moreover, there is only one woman who holds the position of a Governor out of 15 Governors, and 1% of the heads of local councils in Palestine are women. As for the Board of Directors of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the percentage of men reached 99%, compared to only 1% of women, and about 19% of judges are women, and the percentage of female prosecutors is 18%.

Promoting the use of empowerment technology, especially information and communication technology for women, leads to their empowerment and achieving gender equality

 In 2022, about 72% of females (10 years and above) in Palestine owned a smart phone compared to 74% of males, while 88% of females (10 years and above) in Palestine used the Internet compared to 89% of males.

Within this context, the data of Report of the Digital Reality in Palestine by "ipoke" for 2022 indicated that the prevalence rate of social media in Palestine was about 66%, whereas the percentage of using social media by sex was 51% among males and 49% among females.

Digital space is not a safe place for women, as cyber violence against women is an extension and perpetuation of violence against women in the real world.

About 10% of currently or ever married women (15-64 years) in Palestine were exposed to some forms of cyber violence through social media networks. Also, 8% of women were exposed to violence through telecommunication (any threatening, blackmailing, or harassing different people or parties through calls or messages).

While about 12% of females (18-64 years) have never been married in Palestine were exposed to some forms of cyber violence through social media networks. 8% of females were also exposed to violence through telecommunication (any threatening, blackmailing, or harassing different people or parties through calls or messages).