About

 
The Palestinian Maintenance Fund (PMF) is a sovereign, non-ministerial public institution established under Maintenance Fund Law No. (6) of 2005, and amended by Presidential Decree Law No. (12) of 2015. The Fund operates under the oversight of the Council of Ministers, enjoys legal personality, and has an independent budget. Executive Regulation No. (2) of 2007 was issued to ensure the enforcement of the Maintenance Fund Law.

The Fund was established in direct response to the alarmingly low rate of enforcement of maintenance rulings, which at the time did not exceed 7% of all court-issued maintenance decisions. This reality underscored the urgent need for a national mechanism that would ensure rightful access to maintenance entitlements and prevent court decisions from remaining ink on paper.

Rooted in the human rights framework and the principles of non-discrimination based on gender, the Fund seeks to strengthen the State’s role in protecting the rights of marginalized groups—whether children (sons and daughters), mothers, fathers, spouses, or other financially dependent relatives—by guaranteeing the enforcement of maintenance rulings that could not be implemented due to the absence, concealment, or insolvency of the debtor, or for any other legal obstacle.

The PMF also plays a critical role in holding those evading court-ordered maintenance accountable. Through a robust set of legal procedures—including travel bans, imprisonment, and asset seizures (movable and immovable)—the Fund enforces payment of maintenance obligations. These payments, once disbursed by the Fund, are treated as public funds with priority in recovery and legal enforcement.

The Fund’s impact and innovation have been recognized both locally and regionally. In December 2019, it received the Integrity and Transparency Award for State Institutions in the West Bank and Gaza from the AMAN Coalition. In October 2021, the Fund was awarded the Women’s Empowerment Award from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), chosen among 52 Arab and Islamic countries. This international recognition, officially nominated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, honored the Fund’s contributions to advancing the rights of women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

In June 2023, the PMF organized a regional conference in Amman, Jordan, entitled: "One Voice… To Strengthen the Legal and Economic Systems Supporting Women in the Arab World." The conference brought together around 40 experts from the Maghreb, Levant, and Gulf regions, to exchange best practices in improving women’s access to justice in personal status matters, particularly maintenance and legal aid. A key outcome of the conference was the establishment of a regional Arab network of Maintenance Funds, led by the Palestinian Maintenance Fund, to enhance joint cooperation and institutional capacity, and to create a sustainable framework for advancing national and regional performance on women's rights and empowerment.