By: Maydaa Abo El–Nadar
CAIRO, Dec. 3 (SEE) – General Union of Palestinian Women organized on Saturday an exposition to mainly display its members’ products that is inspired by Palestinian heritage.
Once you enter, you will travel in time and space to Palestine. Guests were surrounded by tables displaying products that showed Palestinian identity, such as traditional clothes and popular food. Palestinians were dancing 'dabke' (an Arab folk dance native to the Levant) on the rhythms of their famous songs.
To know more about this annual exhibition, SEE met director of the union’s media committee Wesam Al-Rais.
• Could you tell us a brief idea of the exposition?
The union was established in 1963. Inspired by Palestine’s rich heritage, the union’s members started to produce handmade products. This kind of expositions represents the outlet to market their articles. As all non-profit organizations create expositions to financially support their activities, we started long time ago this annual exposition.
The union consists of several committees; each one had a table here to display its products. We also always welcome anybody outside the union who wants to display his/her own product.
• Is this the only exposition that the union celebrates?
No. In order to financially support Palestinian women residing in Egypt, since its establishment, the union organizes several expositions. Bear in mind that the union financially depends on these expositions and donations from its members.
• Is offering financial aid the only aim of the expositions?
We have another vision. We are working to preserve Palestinian culture through promoting products inspired by Palestinian heritage and made by Palestinian hands.
You saw here Palestinians dancing 'dabke', traditional songs, and popular food products. In other words, such exhibitions show Palestinian culture and heritage’s pillars.
• Could you tell us the reasons behind the founding of the union?
The Palestinian cause is the most important issues amongst the Arabs. Palestinian women have been paying a lot of effort, since last century in favor of their land. So, I believe Palestinian women deserve a prestigious status in communities where they live.
Based on this background, the union was founded. We aim at socially and financially supporting Palestinian women. In addition, we work to give them voice through legislation and laws.
I think Palestine is the first Arab country to consider that 20% of Palestinian institutions must be represented by women. We would like this percentage to reach 30%, and later 50%.
To which entity does the union belong?
The union is one of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s institutions. The union’s headquarter is located in Ramallah, with branches worldwide.
• What is the position of Egypt’s branch?
Egypt’s branch is a very strong one for two reasons. Firstly, the Palestinian community here is very large. Secondly, we are supported by the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity, so we freely organize charity exhibitions and practice our activities.
• How does the international community back your attempts?
Our efforts are supported by international decisions and agreements that Palestine signed, such as CEDAW. United Nations had issued a decision to protect women at armed conflict zones. We then convinced them to apply this decision on Palestinian women living at these zones.
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