ABSTRACT
The Palestinian women's movement is faced with layers of complexities related to colonization and occupation; and a patriarchal society, both of which pose challenges in combating violence against women. Due to the absence of a sovereign Palestinian state, political liberation has constituted the priority for Palestinian women. Despite social shifts in the Palestinian family from an extended to a nuclear family structure, cultural values traditionally inherited in Palestinian society continue to exist. Gender-sensitive justice and legal reform have always been the Palestinian women's movement's major priorities. Reforming the Personal Status Law, as a tool to combat violence and discrimination against women, is central to the work of the women's organizations. In Palestine, two penal codes prevail: the 1960 Jordanian Penal Code in the West Bank, and the 1936 Egyptian Penal Code in Gaza. Both codes contain problematic articles that affect the status and security of women and girls, especially articles that deal with sexual crimes.
