This report covers the fifth and final annual period of WCLAC’s 5 year strategy: 
“Heading towards achieving hope” (2005 – 2009).  
The plan outlines five strategic objectives,
 under each of which notable successes were achieved this year as can be seen below. 
 WCLAC has initiated the process of an external evaluation of its work in all areas. 

Under the auspices of the Palestinian Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development of Jordan, the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling and Juzoor Foundation for Health and Social Development are organizing a regional conference in Amman

The conference will be held at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Al-Bireh on 24th March 2010 between 09:00am to 04:00pm.
The conference aims at raising awareness on the phenomenon of “honor killings” including its origins, the current situation, and recommendations for the future in combating this phenomenon. The conference is also to encourage the set up of a Task Force to steer efforts against the crimes that are committed in the name of honor in the occupied Palestinian territory.

A new report is now available from the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling titled ‘Voices of Palestinian Women: A 2009 report on Israel’s human rights violations against Palestinian women’. With this report, WCLAC aim to highlight the human rights abuses faced by Palestinian women and the gender specific impact of the occupation. 'click here for the full report'

The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) welcomes the review at the fifty fourth session of the Commission on the Status of Women of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. WCLAC is a Palestinian women’s organization based in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Yesterday, 2 October 2009, the Palestinian leadership – under heavy international pressure lead by the United States – deferred the draft proposal at the Human Rights Council endorsing all the recommendations of the UN Fact Finding Mission (the Goldstone Report).

On 8 August 2009, WCLAC representatives presented evidence in Amman to the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. WCLAC gave oral evidence to the Committee and also submitted a report focusing on Palestinian women and how Israeli practices and policies impact on their human rights. The issues covered included freedom of movement, the right to adequate housing and violence against women committed by soldiers and settlers and the impunity for those responsible.

On 24 August 2009, WCLAC submitted an Alternative Report and supporting evidence to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. The report which addresses Israel’s obligations under the ICCPR focuses on violence against women committed by Israeli settlers and soldiers, home demolitions, freedom of movement issues and denial of family reunification. The 38 page report includes testimonies from women in the West Bank including East Jerusalem.

During 2008, there were no significant changes in the Palestinian political context until the devastating war on Gaza.
The status quo was maintained, meaning there was no progress in the peace negotiations while the Israeli siege on Gaza intensified. The blockade led to a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip that worsened as result of the war,

The war on Gaza illustrates the failure of international law. The law both failed to prevent Israel attacking Gaza and has also failed to protect civilians and the civilian infrastructure during the course of the conflict. Many innocent lives have been lost, including hundreds of women and children. Schools, mosques, hospitals and government infrastructure vital for the functioning of society have been destroyed and the people of Gaza have no or limited electricity, water and fuel. With almost constant fighting and bombardment, people cannot

The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling expresses outrage at the horrific attacks by Israel on Gaza and calls upon the United Nations, international community and all human rights organizations and civil society to take immediate action to condemn Israel’s actions and to call on Israel to cease all attacks on Gaza. As the situation reaches