Al-Noor Association launches disability rights project in Bethlehem

The Al-Noor Association for Persons with Disabilities has launched a four-year project to strengthen the protection, resilience, and rights of marginalized women and girls with disabilities in the Aida refugee camp. Funded by the UN Women Fund in cooperation with UN Women and the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, the initiative aims to support children and women across the Bethlehem governorate, specifically targeting the Aida, Al-Azza, and Dheisheh camps.

Project director Ru’a Abu Odeh stated that the program will focus on community participation, inclusive services, leadership, empowerment, mental health, and safety. The project is designed to complement existing programs from the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development, with UNRWA serving as the primary umbrella organization.

A key component of the initiative involves protecting and empowering children with disabilities by enhancing life skills and implementing mechanisms for the early identification of violence and abuse to ensure timely intervention.