A football match was held between two female teams, Al-Ru’a and Al-Diyar, took place on 30 August 2012 with the presence of H.E. Ms. Rabiha Diab, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mr. Jibreel Rjoub,  Secretary General of Higher Council for Youth and Sports, and Ms. Barbara Piazza-Georgi, UNFPA Representative, as well as staff of sister UN agencies and their family members.

The football match was held under the MDG-F Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Programme that is funded by the Government of Spain, a joint initiative implemented by six UN agencies.

“Having 18 female football teams in Palestine echoes the gender equality and the just Palestinian society” Mr. Rjoub said.  “The Executive Office of the Football Association will include three female members, a confirmation that the formulation of youth and sports frameworks gives women equal opportunities” he continued.

“Both the vision and the strategy of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs is gender mainstreaming in all walks of life, including sports, including football, that sends a message to the world at large of the sacrifices and the important role of the Palestinian women” H.E. Ms. Diab said.

“The purpose of the football match is to raise awareness in achieving gender equality and empower women socially, politically and economically” Mr. Hanna Nakhleh, MDG Programme Manager said.  “This is an effort to change stereotypes about the role of women by highlighting the success in having a female football team, at a time when this game was restricted to males” he continued.