Yasmine, a young woman from Jerusalem, Palestine, has transformed her experience under occupation into a powerful story of resistance, leadership, and advocacy through the Young Women for Awareness, Agency, Advocacy, and Accountability (YW4A) programme.
Born into what her father called the “post-Oslo generation,” Yasmine’s early life was marked by instability and injustice. The “post-Oslo generation” refers to Palestinians born after the 1993 Oslo Accords, which promised peace and a path to statehood but ultimately failed to deliver. This generation grew up under continued Israeli occupation, facing daily injustice, political fragmentation, and lost hope in the peace process.
Yasmine shared,
“My parents’ dream was simple: to raise their children with dignity, opportunity, and security. But under Israeli occupation, that dream remained out of reach.”
Her awakening began during the Second Intifada, when at just five years old, she experienced a tear gas attack on her school bus. As barriers rose, literally and figuratively, so did her determination. Denied proper schooling and steered into a “stable” career path in pharmaceutical sciences, Yasmine never let go of her deep desire to advocate for justice and human rights.
That calling grew louder during her Master’s research in Public Health Administration.
“At a clinic, I saw women not talking about health but about personal and social challenges. Domestic violence, discrimination, lack of rights, these were shaping their lives more than illness ever could.”
She needed a platform. One night, she found it on Facebook.
“I saw a post about the YW4A programme from the YWCA of Palestine and didn’t even wait. I applied that night. It felt like the opportunity I had been waiting for, a way to turn frustration into action.”
Through YW4A, Yasmine found her purpose—and her voice. She completed the RiseUp! and Training of Trainers courses, began working with young women in Jerusalem, and built safe spaces for storytelling and solidarity.
“We weren’t just talking, we were healing, organising, and planning for change.”
She received training in social behaviour change, media advocacy, and legal reform, which equipped her to advocate effectively, especially amid increasing pressures in Palestine. Her group’s media campaign spotlighted early marriage and its consequences, and she soon found herself leading grassroots initiatives and mentoring other young women. Her impact reached international platforms. In 2024, Yasmine represented her community at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) conference in South Africa, where she presented the feminist consultation methodology developed through YW4A.
However, one of the most significant milestones in her journey came this year when she participated in the 68th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) in New York. Speaking at a high-level side event, Yasmine shared her personal story and the collective struggles of young Palestinian women fighting for equality and safety under occupation.
“Standing there, telling my story, I wasn’t just speaking for myself, I was carrying the voices of every young woman in my community who has been silenced or pushed aside. CSW gave me the stage, but my community gave me the strength.”
Her words resonated deeply with the international audience, shedding light on the intersections of gender, occupation, and youth leadership. Despite many of her peers being unable to attend due to permit and visa restrictions, Yasmine ensured their experiences were heard.
Back home, she continues her work as a reference group representative for young women in Jerusalem, organising dialogue sessions with government ministers, advocating for legal reforms, and promoting the long-awaited Family Protection Law.
“This is not just my story. It’s a story of what happens when young women are given space to lead. And we’re just getting started.”
