Escola de Cultura de Pau Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
The many different forms of violence associated with the Israeli occupation are having an extraordinary impact on the Palestinian population, exposing them to situations that produce lasting, repetitive and transgenerational individual and collective traumas. In this context, this report focuses on a topic that deals with the interrelationship of human rights, gender and health issues, especially mental health: the situation of women grieving as a result of the Israeli occupation in Palestine. Specifically, it investigates the experience of a programme run since 2002 by the Palestinian feminist organisation Women’s Studies Centre (WSC), which has focused on the traumatic grief experienced by Palestinian women due to a variety of losses: the deaths of sons, daughters, husbands, brothers and sisters; absences imposed by prison sentences; the demolition of or constant threats to their homes; the destruction of their livelihoods; and the long-term effects on their health and that of their families. WSC has developed a programme that has helped hundreds of women to cope with these losses for over two decades through an approach that interconnects individual and group support whilst engaging in community-level awareness-raising.
To properly depict the programme, its journey and its impact, this report analyses its origins during the First Intifada and the decision to focus on the experiences and stories of Palestinian women. It also addresses the reasons for taking an approach that connects grieving women in mutual support spaces (bereaved-to-bereaved, B2B) and investigates the dialogues they have established and the issues they have brought to light. These issues are not only linked to the impacts of the Israeli occupation, but also to problems arising from the social norms and gender stereotypes that shape their lives, including during the grieving period. The report also explores the evolution and some key developments of the programme, which, among other things, have led to its geographical and thematic expansion and networking with other organisations to promote grieving women’s rights and political demands. The report concludes by identifying the programme’s achievements and challenges, paying special attention to the testimonies of many of the women involved. Finally, it calls for much-needed reflection on trauma and grief in Palestine during the ongoing genocide.
This publication is available in Spanish, Catalan and English.
Autora: Pamela Urrutia Arestizábal
April 2024
Escola de Cultura de Pau – Associació Hèlia