RAFIF ESLEEM

Gaza – The AISHA Association for Woman and Child Protection started an initiative named, “Be Strong” in October to support women and girls suffering from cancer and to enable them to overcome this disease in the Gaza Strip. NuJINHA spoke to Nisreen Shawwa, project coordinator of the AISHA, about the purposes of the initiative.

Works for women and children

Nisreen Shawwa has been working for the association for 15 years. “The association was founded in 2009 as an independent Palestinian women’s organization working to achieve gender integration through economic empowerment and psychosocial support to marginalized groups in the Gaza Strip. We also provide legal, psychological, social and health services to women and children, as they are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society. The association particularly carried out activities for women victims of violence. The association pushes decision makers to implement laws and pass regulations that protect women and children,” she told us.

It works to promote gender justice

Speaking about the works of the association, Nisreen Shawwa said, “The association works to promote gender justice, protect and empower women, children, survivors of violence and women with disabilities. We work to realize the principles of human rights and enable the concepts of accountability, rule of law and to promote women’s economic empowerment, women’s political participation, equality, justice and to draw attention to marginalized groups. The association has carried out activities for women and children since its foundation.”

It supports cancer patients

Emphasizing that they have organized workshops, seminars and training meeting for cancer survivors, Nisreen Shawwa said, “The training aimed to introduce service providers to the Eve Al-Zahra guide, a psychological support guide that provides psychological and social services for girls and women to deal with stress during and after crises.” Speaking about the projects of the association, she said that the projects aim to raise awareness. “We also carry out activities for diagnosing and providing treatment for cancer patients, securing medicines for them.”

Activities for women with disabilities

The association also has a project called, “Comprehensive ‎Protection Response ‎for women with disabilities and ‎survivors of GBV in the Gaza Strip”. Speaking about this project, Nisreen Shawwa said, “The project targets women between the ages of 18 and 59. The project aims to enhance protection and respect for the rights of marginalized women, and ensure their rapid access to multi-sectoral response and service, in accordance with governmental and humanitarian legal standards and human rights conventions and treaties.”

“Be Strong” initiative

Speaking about the “Be Strong” initiative launched by the association, Nisreen Shawwa said, “As part of the initiative, we have held many meetings and workshops to raise awareness about cancers. We visited hospitals in the Gaza Strip. We decorated the hospitals, gave presents and toys to cancer patients to cheer them up. We also held parties for cancer survivors in order to give them psychological support. Sometimes, we hold meetings to determine the basic needs of cancer patients. We also try to find solutions for them to travel abroad in order to receive treatments.

“35% of cancer patients have been left by their husbands”

“More than 35% of cancer patients have been left by their husbands,” she said, “This is a psychological violence against cancer patients. Providing psychological support to the cancer patients is the best way of treatment to fight cancer and overcome obstacles and defeat despair.”