The reality, obstacles and prospects of woman development in decision making positions in the Palestinian Judiciary system

The study aims to identify the reality, obstacles and prospects of woman development in decision making positions in the Palestinian Judiciary system. The study has tackled its subject as a multi-dimensional phenomenon addressed by both theoretical and applied researches. This is the first study, to the researcher knowledge, that specifically tackles the issue of women engagement into the judiciary system and their role in building and developing national institutions. To achieve this end, the researcher developed a 61-item questionnaire; divided into three sub-scales as follows: citizens’ views regarding women engagement in the Palestinian judiciary, obstacles facing women and means of reinforcement of women role in this regard. The study tool was administrated to three hundred and eighty four males and females citizens stratifiedly selected from Nablus, Ramallah, Al Birreh and Bethlehem governorates. Data was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Findings demonstrate that participants had a moderate attitudes regarding women engagement in the Palestinian judiciary based on several indicators, as follows: a good magistrate is good regardless of gender; women engagement into the Palestinian judiciary is a fulfillment of their ambitions; a woman is capable of working as a magistrate in the Palestinian judiciary, and it is essential to spread awareness among members of the society of the significance of woman introduction and engagement into the Palestinian judiciary. Results had indicated the existence of obstacles that prevent woman from carrying out this role; most important of which is the prevalence of male values in the position of decision making in the Palestinian judiciary and refusal of the society members of the idea of woman engagement in the Palestinian judiciary. In contrast, the subjects stressed the importance of reinforcement of women engagement in the Palestinian judiciary using several means most important of which are development of woman capabilities and skills to engage into the Palestinian judiciary, the need to spread awareness about women capabilities in this field, the need to encourage women to experience the field of Palestinian judiciary and granting them the opportunity to prove themselves through exchange of experiences with countries where the women occupy a significant rank in the judiciary. The study came out with a number of recommendations most significant of which are the need to spread awareness among community members (males and females) of the significance of woman engagement into the Palestinian judicial system and the need to tackle the social obstacles which limit woman participation in this context. It is also essential to conduct specialized follow up studies to reinforce women engagement in institutions operating in the Palestinian community in general and the Palestinian judiciary in particular.