QADER and the International Labour Organization Explore Cooperation Horizons to Promote the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Palestine

As part of their continuous efforts to strengthen networking and coordination with all stakeholders—at the local, regional, and international levels—toward promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities on a rights-based approach and in line with the CRPD, QADER for Community Development (QADER) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) held a preliminary meeting on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, to discuss potential areas of partnership and ways to translate them into practice, based on their shared principles. 

The meeting, hosted at QADER’s headquarters in Beit Jala, was attended by Daniel Cork, ILO Representative in Jerusalem; Rasha Al-Shurafa, Program Analyst; with virtual participation from Mousa Hussein, Social Protection Officer; and Sharif Khaled, Emergency Response Program Manager at the ILO. 

Representing QADER were Lana Bandak, Director General; George Mansour, Programs Director; Carol Mukarker, Program Development and MEAL Manager; and Nadine Tamimi, Advocacy Coordinator. 

To explore specific collaboration areas, participants presented brief overviews of their work—outlining strategic goals, general principles, programs and interventions, partnerships, and achievements—particularly concerning the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Palestinian Labour market.  

The discussion addressed topics such as the harmonization of data within the Employment Portal managed by the Ministry of Labour, considering QADER’s Economic Empowerment Program database, established in 2008. It also highlighted significance of representation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, either through a coordinating body contributing to national policy and legislation, or by ensuring their active participation at the grassroots level and in Labour unions. Discussion also highlighted the significance of encouraging employers to adopt and apply the principle of disability inclusion, review the Social Protection Program of the Ministry of Social Development and its services from a disability perspective, in addition to evidence-based and policy-oriented knowledge production.

Building on QADER’s long-standing expertise in disability inclusion and recognizing inclusion as a core principle of the ILO, both sides agreed to unify efforts in the discussed areas, drawing on joint partnerships with entities such as the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Development. QADER also committed to providing the ILO with the necessary technical support on disability inclusion, as enhancing inclusion was identified as a recommendation in one of the organization’s evaluations. 

It is worth noting that QADER is a leading organization in the field of disability inclusion at both the national and regional levels. The organization is also actively engaged in international advocacy through the UN’s treaty and non-treaty mechanisms, including the committees of the CRPD, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).