The Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling (WCLAC) is an independent Palestinian, non-profit, non-governmental organization active in East Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank.
[1] WCLAC addresses issues of gender based violence in Palestine through research and the proposition of legislation, legal aid, social counseling and protection services to improve conditions for women throughout the region.
[5][6] At a time when gender-based discrimination and violence started to garner global attention, the WCLAC enacted their Model Parliament: a national campaign launched in 1998 throughout Palestine to guarantee legislation to protect and make equal the rights and participation of women in civil society.
Following the case of the honor killing of Aya Al-Baradiya that sentenced the perpetrator to seven months in prison, national attention grew around laws that fail to enforce gender equality in Palestine.
[8][3] The WCLAC has submitted statements to the United Nations (UN) about the disproportionate effects of violence and legislation on women drawing on data collected by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
The organization has submitted statements to the UN to urge support for inquiries into the violations committed against Palestinians including illegal blockades and a closure policy on Gaza by Israel.
[10] As a political response to these women's experiences, the WCLAC called for an end to a culture of impunity–that fails to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice, a prosecution of Israeli settlers, a demand that Israel ends the blockade on Gaza, Human Rights Council (HRC) member support for justice and accountability, support and facilitation for the commission of inquiry mandate, and for third states to impose sanctions and other serious measures to hold Israel accountable for the use of explosive weapons.
[10][11] The WCLAC also secured funding to establish a shelter in Bethlehem, offering refuge to women and children escaping gender-based violence as a result of increased militarization of Israeli occupation.