The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) released a report on indicators of woman's equality in Palestine on the occasion of International Woman's Day on Monday.

The statistics were presented by Mrs Ola Awad, the Acting President of PCBS, who spoke of the importance of recognizing the contributions of women in Palestinian life, "as mother, wife, sister, daughter, worker, and struggler."

The report's findings were for women in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, for women aged 15 years and above.

The marital status of women in 2009, saw 55.9% married, while 6.1% widowed, 1.3% divorced, 0.2% separated, and 36.5% single .The average age for a woman to marry was 19.5, while 10% of women over 30 had never been married.

Literacy rates for women remain below that of men, with 8.3% of women over the age of 15 illiterate, and 2.6% of men.

Numbers of women in universities continues to climb, with women making up 55.2% of Palestinian students and graduates. In government schools, Palestinian women made up 54.8% of teaching staff.

Labor force participation rate for females remains low at about 15.5%, compared with 67.0% of men. Woman's unemployment reached 26.4%. In the Middle East, the percentage of women in the labor force is 26.

Jobs for women were primarily in the educational sector (34.7%) followed by agricultural, foresting, hunting, and fishing at 20.5%; in addition to health at 9.4%.

The number of female prisoners in Israeli jails in 2009 was 34, five of which were serving life sentences. Twelve were still awaiting trail, and were 2 in administrative detention.

Out of 22 ministers in the appointed Palestinian Authority government, five were women at the end of 2009. The year saw the first woman appointed head of the Palestine Stock Exchange and the appointment of the first female governor.
Ma’an/Ab