Palestinian Working Women Society for Development

The Palestinian Working Women Society for Development (PWWSD) is a leading feminist, developmental, and human rights organization founded in 1981. With over four decades of grounded experience, PWWSD works across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, reaching some of the most underserved and at-risk Palestinian communities. Its mission is rooted in the belief that every woman and girl deserves to live in dignity, free from violence, poverty, and discrimination, and to have the power and opportunity to shape her own life and future. The organization began its activities towards the end of the 1970s as a social movement focused on the rights of working women, organizing them into labor committees at work sites and encouraging them to affiliate with existing trade unions and syndicates active in Palestine at that time. In 1981, the Union of Palestinian Working Women Committees was formed, opening membership and services to women from various sectors and geographical areas in both the West Bank (including Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. In 1991, it was officially registered in Jerusalem under the name "Women Workers Society" according to the laws applied by the occupation at that time. In 2001, the institution was officially registered with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior under the name "Palestinian Working Women Society for Development." PWWSD's work covers all governorates of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It is an active member of numerous local, regional, and international networks and coalitions, such as the Palestinian NGO Network, the Arab Women's Network "Aisha," and the International Federation for Workers' Education. The organization's main headquarters is in Ramallah, with offices in Gaza, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Yatta south of Hebron. It targets women in marginalized areas, youth, and children, as well as women leaders, decision-makers, political parties, media personnel, and society as a whole. PWWSD considers women's rights an integral part of human rights, grounded in numerous international treaties and conventions, including the 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence, the Palestinian Basic Law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, international humanitarian law, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Its programs include political participation and promoting the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda; economic empowerment; combating violence against women and girls; psychosocial counseling; and capacity building. It also publishes a quarterly feminist and social magazine, Yanabee. According to its official website, PWWSD has directly reached 96,212 women between 2023 and 2025, operates in 16 governorates, and has 47+ active partners. Its leadership includes Director General Amal Khreishe and Chairperson Hanan Banoura.

The Palestinian Working Women Society for Development (PWWSD) began its activities towards the end of the 1970s as a social movement focused on the rights of working women. The starting point was to organize working women into labor committees at work sites and encourage them to affiliate with existing trade unions and syndicates active in Palestine at that time, though these were under pressure and the occupation imposed restrictions on their work. The organization helped introduce women workers to their rights and motivated them to advocate for these rights. Step by step, the definition of working women expanded to include women working in the agricultural sector and women housewives. In 1981, the Union of Palestinian Working Women Committees was formed, and membership and services were opened to all women from various sectors and geographical areas in both the West Bank (including Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. This marked the beginning of a period of institutionalization and expansion from 1981 to 1991. In 1991, the organization was officially registered in Jerusalem under the name "Women Workers Society" according to the laws applied by the occupation at that time. In 1992, it was licensed as a non-profit association under the name "Women Workers Society." In 2001, the institution was officially registered with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior under the name "Palestinian Working Women Society for Development." Throughout its history, PWWSD has kept pace with the latest developments in women's discourse, mainly progressive social discourse that connected women's issues with the global issues of the community, mainly ending the occupation. The organization considers women's rights an integral part of human rights and bases its work on numerous international treaties and conventions, including the 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence, the Palestinian Basic Law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, international humanitarian law, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. PWWSD's work covers all governorates of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It is an active member of numerous local, regional, and international networks and coalitions, such as the Palestinian NGO Network, the Arab Women's Network "Aisha," and the International Federation for Workers' Education. The organization's main headquarters is in Ramallah, with offices in Gaza, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Yatta south of Hebron. It targets women in marginalized areas, youth, and children, as well as women leaders, decision-makers, political parties, media personnel, and society as a whole. According to its official website, PWWSD has directly reached 96,212 women between 2023 and 2025, operates in 16 governorates, and has 47+ active partners. Its leadership includes Director General Amal Khreishe and Chairperson Hanan Banoura. The organization continues to work for the social, economic, and political empowerment of Palestinian women, defending their human rights and advancing gender equality through legal aid, advocacy, and community-led programs across Palestine.

• 2001

  Officially registered with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior under the name "Palestinian Working Women Society for Development."

• 1992

  Licensed as a non-profit association under the name "Women Workers Society."

• 1991

  Officially registered in Jerusalem under the name "Women Workers Society" according to the laws applied by the occupation at that time.

• 1981

  Union of Palestinian Working Women Committees formed; membership and services opened to women across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

A feminist, developmental, and human rights organization advancing gender equality and women's empowerment across Palestine through legal aid, advocacy, and community-led programs.

• Political Participation and Promoting Women, Peace, and Security Agenda Program

  Advances women's equal participation in public life, strengthens inclusive governance, and supports women's leadership in decision-making processes at the community, local, and national levels.

• Economic Empowerment Program

  Reflects the organization's long-standing commitment to women's economic empowerment.

• Combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Program

  Works to combat violence against women and girls.

• Psychosocial Counseling Program

  Provides psychosocial support to women and their children and works to reduce violence against women in all its forms.

• Capacity Building Program

  Builds the capacities of women and communities.

• Yanabee Magazine

  A quarterly feminist and social magazine published by the organization, featuring contributions from researchers and those interested in feminist and social issues.

1. 1PWWSD | Palestinian Working Woman Society for Developmentpwwsd.org
2. 2Who We Are | PWWSDpwwsd.org
3. 3Our Story | PWWSDpwwsd.org
4. 4Palestinian Working Women Society for Development - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5جمعية المرأة العاملة الفلسطينية للتنمية - Wikipediaar.wikipedia.org