PMF and Sawasya Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Access to Justice

PMF and Sawasya Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Access to Justice
The Palestinian Maintenance Fund (PMF) and the Sawasya III Joint Programme signed a cooperation agreement at PMF headquarters in Ramallah. Sawasya III is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/PAPP) to promote justice and rule of law across Palestine.

This agreement establishes a collaborative framework to enhance access to justice for PMF beneficiaries—particularly women and children—through the Fund’s legal, social, and economic services. It reflects a shared commitment to justice, accountability, and human rights.

The agreement was signed during a joint meeting attended by Ms. Fatima Al-Moqat, PMF Director General, and Mr. Simon Ridley, Acting Head of the Sawasya III Joint Programme, on behalf of Ms. Sarah Poole, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator.

Mr. Ridley emphasized the strategic value of deepening cooperation with PMF, describing the Fund as a key public institution that effectively bridges the justice sector and civil society to expand access to legal remedies and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

Ms. Al-Moqat stressed the importance of sustained partnerships with the international community—particularly with Sawasya, the largest justice sector support programme in Palestine. She underscored PMF’s unique role as the sole national institution that directly serves women and children with integrated legal, social, and economic support, and affirmed the significance of expanding this collaboration to further uphold the rights of vulnerable groups both locally and internationally.

The MoU outlines several areas of cooperation, including:

Provision of free legal aid for women and children in remote and marginalized communities in the West Bank and Gaza;
Capacity-building for PMF legal and administrative staff in key areas such as gender-based violence and fair trial standards;
Strengthening the Fund’s IT infrastructure and digital connectivity with justice institutions;
Mainstreaming accountability and protection principles in legal education and awareness materials;
And hosting workshops to improve the enforcement of court rulings and support the tracking and prosecution of non-compliant maintenance debtors through coordination with relevant governmental entities.