The Door to Justice Remains Open: Palestinian Maintenance Fund Strengthens Legal Awareness Among Women in Marginalized Communities

The Door to Justice Remains Open: Palestinian Maintenance Fund Strengthens Legal Awareness Among Women in Marginalized Communities
As part of its continued efforts to advance access to justice and raise awareness of legal rights and services, the Palestinian Maintenance Fund (PMF) conducted a series of legal awareness workshops throughout May, June, and July 2025, reaching women in a number of marginalized and underserved communities. The activities were implemented under PMF’s Protection and Inclusion Program, with the support of Sawasya 3: The Joint Programme to Enhance Access to Justice.

The workshops were held across several governorates, including Jenin, Tubas, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, Ramallah and Al-Bireh, and Hebron, covering communities such as Silat al-Harithiya, Rummana, Kafr Dan, Burqin, Al-Yamun, Al-Fara’a Camp, Habla, Kafr al-Labad, Al-Jalazun Camp, Al-Amari Camp, Masafer Bani Na’im, and Yatta. This geographic reach reflects PMF’s commitment to bringing legal information and services closer to women living in communities where access to justice and legal assistance may be limited.

The workshops aimed to introduce participants to the Palestinian Maintenance Fund, its mandate, role, and services, with a particular focus on its role in safeguarding the financial rights of families and eligible groups. Participants were also introduced to the Fund’s programs, the categories of people who may benefit from its services, and the procedures and pathways for accessing available support.

The sessions provided an overview of PMF’s role in facilitating the payment and enforcement of maintenance judgments that cannot otherwise be enforced, and explained the categories covered by its interventions, including wives, children, parents, and relatives who are unable to earn a living. Participants were also informed that access to PMF’s financial services is subject to the existence of a final, unenforceable maintenance judgment and the fulfillment of the applicable requirements and procedures.

The workshops further addressed the types of maintenance and related family rights covered by the Fund’s interventions, including spousal maintenance, child maintenance, and custody-related rights. Practical guidance was provided on the process of accessing PMF services, including eligibility requirements, required documentation, application procedures, case follow-up, and the disbursement of maintenance payments to beneficiaries. The sessions also explained the role and obligations of guarantors, as well as the mechanisms through which amounts paid by the Fund are recovered from persons legally ordered to pay maintenance.

Participants were also introduced to PMF’s complementary programs and services, particularly the Legal Aid Program, which provides free legal consultations, legal representation and advocacy before Sharia courts, follow-up on the enforcement of maintenance judgments, and support in implementing decisions related to visitation and hosting. These services complement the financial protection provided by the Fund and help beneficiaries navigate available legal pathways to secure their rights.

The workshops also highlighted PMF’s Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Program, which provides interventions aimed at supporting eligible groups and strengthening their capacity to respond to economic challenges. In addition, participants were introduced to the Protection and Inclusion Program, which addresses health, psychosocial, and social needs, delivers awareness-raising and guidance activities, and strengthens referral and coordination mechanisms with relevant partner institutions.

The workshops were delivered by PMF’s legal team, including Ms. Attaa Shaikha, Ms. Mervat Abu Qweider, Ms. Maisam Samoudi, Ms. Majd Khalaileh, Ms. Nisreen Idris, and Ms. Khuloud Samouh in Yatta. Through practical and accessible discussions, the lawyers provided participants with information on the rights of women and children, PMF’s services, and the legal pathways available to those seeking protection and assistance.

The workshops generated active engagement among participants, with women raising questions and concerns related to financial and family rights, PMF service requirements, application procedures, and available legal assistance. The discussions provided practical guidance aimed at strengthening women’s ability to understand their rights, navigate available services, and take informed steps toward accessing justice.

These activities reflect PMF’s approach to legal knowledge as a key entry point to protection and empowerment. By bringing legal information and services closer to women in underserved communities, PMF seeks to bridge the gap between women and their rights, increase awareness of available protection mechanisms, and strengthen women’s ability to safeguard their own rights and those of their children.

Through the continued implementation of outreach activities across different governorates and communities, the Palestinian Maintenance Fund is expanding its community presence and reaching women and families facing heightened barriers to accessing justice. These efforts contribute to strengthening social and legal protection, promoting meaningful access to justice, and ensuring that the door to rights and protection remains open to those seeking justice and a pathway to secure their rights.