This unit was set up to research and document violations of Palestinian women’s rights, gender-based violence relating both to the patriarchal structure of Palestinian society (i.e. femicide, domestic violence and incest) and violence inflicted by the Occupying Forces, and other issues concerning the status of Palestinian women, such as reproductive health. In addition, the Unit also documents WCLAC’s history, work and achievements.

The Research and Documentation Unit leads and supports the Centre’s efforts to acquire and gather first hand data through community-based research, related to the programs and topics of concern to WCLAC. This includes determining new definitions of - among other concepts - feminism, statehood and law from a feminist perspective and from Palestinian women’s unique experience of living under occupation. It also includes recognizing and honouring the various ways in which women know and understand their world.

Currently, the Unit is engaged in several lines of research and documentation:
• Studying Palestinian women’s responses to the marital status law and its articles.
• Examining the Palestinian draft constitution and the way it deals with gender-related issues.
• Researching the factors behind the exclusion of Arab women from the protection granted to all peoples under international law.
• Contributing to the preparation of “shadow reports” representing the case of Palestinian women under occupation, to the United Nations Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
• Analysing local Palestinian newspapers and the way they address women-related issues such as divorce, domestic violence, and women and child allowances.

Additionally, the Unit organises internal workshops and study days for WCLAC staff with the aim of discussing and internalising feminist principles so that they are integrated into the Centre’s work. It also runs trainings for other feminists and human rights activists on documenting the situation of Palestinian women.

The Unit also maintains a specialized library, popular with researchers and university students, and which is evolving into a valuable resource centre within the community.