- Title: WEST BANK: Laila Ghannam is first Palestinian female governor
- Date: 10th March 2010
- Summary: GHANNAM LEAVING HOSPITAL RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (MARCH 4, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE RAMALLAH AND AL BIREH GOVERNORATE BUILDING PALESTINIAN AND GOVERNORATE FLAGS SIGN READING IN ARABIC AND ENGLISH "RAMALLAH AND ALBIREH GOVERNORATE" GHANNAM ARRIVING AT OFFICE AIDE SPEAKING TO GHANNAM CLOSE OF GHANNAM SITTING ON HER DESK CLOSE OF GHANNAM'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GOVERNOR OF RAMALLAH AND ALBIREH, LAILA GHANNAM, SAYING: "It (Ramallah) is a city of burdens since it is in the centre, the prime minister's office, the presidential compound and other vital facilities of the Palestinian Authority are located in the city. It is obvious it is a responsibility but I work with a team. It is right that I have to direct the organisation but when there is a team and an association is launched in the right way, so the responsibilities diminish, and co-operation increases." VARIOUS OF GHANNAM MEETING PALESTINIAN STUDENTS CLOSE OF PLAQUE READING IN ARABIC "LAILA GHANNAM, GOVERNOR OF RAMMALLAH AND ALBIREH" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GOVERNOR OF RAMALLAH AND ALBIREH, LAILA GHANNAM, SAYING: "In the president's platform, there is space for youth and women. He fulfilled his promises of having five female ministers, a governor, and judges, for the first time in Palestine. The president doesn't look at gender but as professional humans. This is a an important way to entrust the person under responsibilities. I was happy with this trust." GHANNAM LEAVING OFFICE GHANNAM IN ELEVATOR WITH AIDES GHANNAM LEAVING THE BUILDING VARIOUS OF GHANNAM AT CONFERENCE FOR GENDER EQUALITY
- Embargoed: 25th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1B77H2NR7BILKR91XX2WNCIKT
- Story Text: Laila Ghannam is the first woman to become a governor in the West Bank.
Two months ago (January 22), Ghannam was sworn in before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as Governor of the largest district in the Palestinian Territories, Ramallah and al-Bireh, becoming the first female governor since the Palestinian Authority was established in 1994.
The 35-year-old broke many social and political taboos by reaching the high-ranking position, which until recently, had been occupied by men only.
Ghannam, who is divorced, originally comes from the West Bank village of Deir Dibwan. She now lives alone in an apartment in the centre of the city of Ramallah, due to Israeli restrictions on movements between the Palestinian cities and villages.
"I live here alone because my family lives in Deir Dibwan village, which is not far away from here, but the restrictions on movement and the closure is an obstacle for me to live with my family. Originally, it is not far away but due to closure it takes a lot of time, so it is hard to stay there," she said.
Ghannam says that along with the job comes long working hours, and virtually no social life, but she relishes the responsibility.
"The career of governor does not help me to separate work from family, because I do not have specific working hours, the governor works twenty-four hours a day. It is hard, sometimes I go back home and I have to continue working on the phone. Sometimes, I have to go back to work again. It is hard socially and physiologically, but I have responsibilities and I have to live up to the responsibility," Ghannam said.
She gets up early every morning to govern a very sensitive city in the West Bank.
Wearing a headscarf and conservative clothes, the governor visited the Ramallah National hospital and met several who had been injured in the weekly demonstrations against Israel's continued settlement-expansion in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh.
The position of Ramallah and al-Bireh governor is complicated and carries huge responsibilities, Ghannam says, since the district is located in the heart of the West Bank and is considered the political and economic capital of the Palestinian Authority. It is the location of the Palestinian headquarters and the main Palestinian governmental offices.
"It (Ramallah) is a city of burdens since it is in the centre, the prime minister's office, the presidential compound and other vital facilities of the Palestinian Authority are located in the city. It is obvious it is a responsibility but I work with a team. It is right that I have to direct the organisation but when there is a team and an association is launched in the right way, so the responsibilities diminish, and co-operation increases."
President Mahmoud Abbas, who appointed Ghannam, has often insisted that Palestinian women are partners in building a Palestinian state and its institutions, and they should be guaranteed their rights and equality.
"In the president's platform, there is space for youth and women. He fulfilled his promises of having five female ministers, a governor, and judges, for the first time in Palestine. The president doesn't look at gender but as professional humans. This is a an important way to entrust the person with responsibilities. I was happy with this trust," the Fatah member told Reuters Television.
Ghannam holds a PHD in education and specialises in Psychological Health. She also holds a Master's degree in Psychological and Educational counselling. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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