On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Central Elections Commission (CEC) in Palestine celebrates the courage, leadership, and resilience of women who shape our society, reaffirming its commitment to empowering women and ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making. This year’s theme, Give to Gain, highlights the power of collaboration, reciprocity, and support in advancing gender equality, particularly in political participation.
Political participation is not a privilege; it is a right. Women in Palestine face multiple structural challenges, with the occupation as the primary barrier limiting access to resources, mobility, and political engagement, compounded by persistent social and cultural obstacles. Despite these challenges, the CEC continues to actively work to empower women, both within the electoral system and across society, fostering an inclusive and representative political landscape. This commitment is also reflected internally, where the CEC has succeeded in raising the percentage of female employees to 56.4%, demonstrating progress in gender representation and the Commission’s ongoing efforts to further strengthen women’s participation at all levels of decision-making.
Through long-standing and continuous partnerships with local civil society organizations (CSOs) and feminist groups, the CEC has implemented awareness campaigns, workshops, and community engagement initiatives to strengthen women’s understanding of electoral processes and encourage their active participation in elections. These efforts aim to equip women with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to engage fully in local governance and to take an active role in elections, including participating as candidates. Moreover, it aims to ensure the adherence of all electoral lists to the legally required minimum representation, including respecting women candidates right to electoral campaigning and refraining from hiding their names or pictures, and undertaking additional measures to ensure against their withdrawal in order to maintain their presences in electoral lists.
The Commission notes that the percentage of women registered in the voter registry of the 2026 Local Elections stands at approximately 49%, meanwhile the percentage of female candidates in electoral lists nominated for municipal councils reached approximately 32%, and those nominated for village councils reached approximately 23%. Additionally, the CEC registered 8 electoral lists headed by women, and further added that the percentage of women among its staff working during the current electoral process reached approximately 57% of the total short-term and long-term employment. Continuous awareness-raising and facilitation of women’s candidacy contribute to building an inclusive electoral environment and strengthening transparency and fairness in the democratic process.
The CEC also partners with feminist organizations to advocate for the female quota in the 2026 local elections, ensuring that all municipal electoral lists reflect legally mandated representation and that any withdrawals do not compromise women’s presence on the ballots. This reflects the Commission’s strategic belief in reinforcing the importance of women’s meaningful participation in elections and their influence in shaping decision-making at the community level.
Women’s participation is not only a significant right, protected by law, but a cornerstone of democratic development. Continuous support for women candidates and voters contributes to transparent, inclusive, and accountable elections. On this International Women’s Day, the CEC calls on all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, civil society, and citizens to recognize and respect women’s participation, emphasizing that supporting women participation in elections constitutes an investment in local development, which enhances the path of democracy, and actively contributes to shaping the future of the country, indicating that women experiences have proven successful and distinguished, providing role models to be followed.
In conclusion, the CEC reaffirmed continuing to receive inquiries and reports concerning women’s rights to vote and to participate as candidates, ensuring that all women can exercise their electoral rights in accordance with the law and relevant regulations. Furthermore, the CEC invites any woman exposed to any type of pressure to deny her the exercise of her electoral rights as a candidate or a voter to visit any of the CEC offices or the Independent Commission for Human Rights "ICHR" to submit her complaint, which will be followed up and addressed with urgency.