User:LilIlyich/General Union of Palestinian Women/Cliopentimento Peer Review

General info
LilIlyich
 * Whose work are you reviewing?


 * Link to draft you're reviewing:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:LilIlyich/General_Union_of_Palestinian_Women?veaction=edit&preload=Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org_draft_template
 * Link to the current version of the article (if it exists):General Union of Palestinian Women

Evaluate the drafted changes
Good work on this. You have a strong draft here. What needs to be worked on is 1) more historical context about its founding in 1965, and 2) more substance about what it actually did from 1965 to the present. Can you do more research to learn about its activism in those five to six decades? Let me know if you have any questions.

I'm going to make my edits and questions below in ALL CAPS BOLD and what I put in bolded brackets [ ] I suggest deleting. KM

Origins of the General Union of Palestinian Women
Palestinian women's involvement in movements and political action WAS [has been] shaped by the British colonial presence in Palestine beginning in 1917 and the mass displacement of Palestinians by Zionist militias and the Israeli Army during the Nakba of 1948. Prior to the formation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), there has been a long-standing tradition of Palestinian women, generally from middle-class backgrounds living in larger city centers, engaging in political activity that predates the rise of the Palestinian National Movement in the mid-1960s.

Thirty years prior to the conception of the GUPW, organizations such as the Arab Women's Union [FOUNDED IN WHAT YEAR?] actively organized women in Jerusalem by utilizing a flexible framework that integrated Palestinian nationalism with social and political action. As Palestinian identities continued to be redefined through the precarious status of the Palestinian state, the Arab Women's Union began identifying itself as the Palestinian Arab Women's Union around 1944. Eventually, the word 'general' (USE DOUBLE QUOTES " " ) was adopted into the Organization's (USE LOWER CASE O) name, INFLUENCING [resembling] the contemporary name of the General Union of Palestinian Women before its official establishment in 1965.

Goals/Mission
(CAN YOU ROOT THIS SECTION MORE IN THE HISTORY OF WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1965? THIS SEEMS TO BE A HISTORICAL MOMENT THAT DOES NOT GET FLESHED OUT AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO DO THAT HERE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TEXT JUMPS TO THE PRESENT TENSE HERE) The General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW) advocates for the idea that Palestinian women's social and political rights can only be achieved through an independent, democratic government. As such, one of the main goals of the GUPW is a sovereign Palestinian state where Palestinian people maintain the right to self-determination and the city of Jerusalem is acknolwedged ACKNOWLEDGED as the state's capital.

In addition to the GUPW's goal of an independent Palestinian state, the GUPW also aims to ensure the equality and socioeconomic rights of Palestinian women. According to the GUPW, these rights concern equality, citizenship, and more.

Notable people

 * Issam Abdulhadi — Former President (1960s)
 * Samira Abu Ghazaleh — Former Head of the GUPW branch in Egypt
 * Salwa Abu Khadra — Former Secretary General
 * Shadia Helou — Former member of the GUPW branch in Lebanon
 * Rima Nazzal — Member of the Union secretariat
 * May Sayegh — Former Secretary General (1975-1985)
 * Hana Siyam — Former member of the GUPW Administrative Council for Fateh
 * Manhal Um — Former Member of thr GUPW Administrative Council

Intisar al-Wazir (Um Jihad)
Intisar al-Wazir is the co-founder and President of the General Union of Palestinian Women. She is commonly referred to as the “mother of the fight” due to her contributions to the organization and its cause, which have been linked to growing membership numbers among both Palestinian and non-Palestinian women. Resulting from her commitment to the Palestinian cause, al-Wazir is regarded by some as the most widely recognized and respectfully viewed woman amongst the Palestinian community. In response to growing domestic-violence and economic need due to the COVID-19 pandemic, al Wazir called on the Prime Minister to enact legislation to combat these issues. (DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE LEGISLATION WAS AND WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?)

Zulaykha al-Shihabi
Zulaykha al-Shihabi is a co-founder of the General Union of Palestinian Women. She is credited for calling the meeting in February 1965 that led to the establishment of the GUPW. As a prominent member of Palestinian women's movements throughout her life, al-Shihabi also served as president of the Arab Women's Union until her death in 1992.

Establishment of Diasporic Branches
The GUPW has established diasporic branches to spread support to the Womens’ movement worldwide. Notable branches of the General Union of Palestinian Women include: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Sweden. '''DO YOU KNOW THE YEARS OF THE FOUNDING OF THESE VARIOUS BRANCHES? PLEASE INCLUDE IF SO'''

GUPW Branch in Kuwait
The GUPW Kuwait Branch seeks to maintain Palestinian cultural heritage through cultural activities and social services. The Union finances a series of classes, available strictly to women, as a means to increase their chances of employment. The standard offerings are sewing and typing classes, however, if interest is expressed, literacy, knitting, and English classes could also be provided.

GUPW Branch in Jordan
The GUPW Jordan Branch was instituted as a result of the GUPW constitution, which specified that Union Headquarters should be established in the same country hosting the principle PLO office. The presence of GUPW Headquarters was recognized by the Jordanian government, however they did not officially recognize the branch, due to their lack of license. In 1966, the PLO office was closed by the Jordan Regime, which subsequently led to the Union’s office closing as well. This closure led the Union to move its operations underground.

GUPW Branch in Lebanon
The GUPW Lebanon branch has supported local refugee populations, residing in Burj al-Barajneh camp, through monetary donations raised by the German Palestinian community. The donations aided 100 families who were facing harsh economic and living conditions resulting from siege repercussions and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial help for the families depended on their family size and could range from 50,000-100,000 Lebanese pounds.

Hosting of 2022 Open Day on Women, Peace, and Security
In November 2022, the GUPW collaborated with UN Women Palestine on their annual Open Day on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). The theme for the 2022 Open Day was “What Palestinian Women Want: A Women-Centered Vision for A Viable Independent State.” Members of feminist organizations in the West Bank and Palestinian speakers from diasporic communities organized alongside UN Representatives and International institutions to discuss gendered issues in Palestine.