RAMALLAH, Dec 20 (NNN-WAFA) – A Palestinian foundation, recently launched an online application named Sawa121, to provide more protection for Palestinian women from increasing harassment and abuse, whether verbal or physical, in public places and at work.
The application, launched by the Sawa Foundation, concerned with women’s issues, “provides a mechanism of direct contact by the harassed women with bodies concerned,” Jalal Khader, legal advisor of the foundation, said.
“The phenomenon of harassment against women is strikingly present in Palestinian society,” he noted.
The app allows women to locate where the harassment acts take place, by “simply clicking a button” on a map, Khader explained.
“Through the app, women can also set an online session with a private doctor and obtain medical advice for free,” he said.
This app feature, which is new in the Arab world, turned out important for women because the COVID-19 pandemic now makes it more difficult for them to go to clinics, Khader pointed out.
Through the app that covers all Palestinian territories, women subjected to harassment or abuse can contact human rights centres, the police and an ambulance for support and assistance, he said.
Nahid Abu Taima, a feminist activist, said, application that helps women “report the location and identity of the perpetrators” also “provides them with confidential protection from being persecuted in future.”
She also suggested the launch of an awareness campaign, to provide women with the needed information about facing harassment, especially at the workplace.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, one out of every three women in the Palestinian territories is exposed to harassment of all kinds.– NNN-WAFA
