Violence Against Women in Palestine and Mediocre Accountability

This article discusses the forms that violence against women take in the Palestinian context. Societal oppression, economic dependence and the public/private divide are cited as factors that maintain and perpetuate patriarchal values in Palestine. These factors are understood within the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The regulation of women’s body in the name of family “honour” plays a significant role in the perpetuation of violence against Palestinian women. Violence against women is further internalized into Palestinian culture due to the lack of legal consequences for marital rape and “honour” crimes. This article concludes with a series of recommendations including legal reforms as well as the destruction of harmful gender stereotypes.