Launch of Participatory Studies on the Rights and Needs of Persons with Disabilities in Al-Ubeidiya and Teqoa

On Monday, 21 September 2026, QADER for Community Development launched participatory studies examining the rights and needs of persons with disabilities in Bethlehem Governorate. The event brought together 31 representatives from the Bethlehem Governorate, partner municipalities, the Directorate of Local Government, the ministries of Social Development, Labour and Health, the Palestinian Police Directorate, youth accountability teams, local partner organizations, and organizations of persons with disabilities in the governorate.

The workshop opened with remarks by the Governor of Bethlehem, Mr. Mohammad Taha Abu Alia; Eng. Rawan Shawar, representing QADER, and Mr. Mohammad Hasasneh, Director of the Bethlehem Directorate of Local Government. They highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships among governmental, local and civil society institutions across various sectors, as well as supporting efforts to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities and their meaningful participation in society.

The workshop included a presentation on the studies’ methodology and key findings. The findings revealed challenges and gaps affecting persons with disabilities’ access to rights and services, community participation, education, healthcare, employment, economic empowerment and social protection.

Representatives of the participating organizations contributed to discussions and interventions throughout the workshop. Participants commended the importance and accuracy of the participatory studies and their role in providing an evidence base for local development planning and service improvement. The workshop also highlighted the impact of the partnership between QADER, the municipalities of Al-Ubeidiya and Teqoa, youth accountability teams, local organizations, and organizations of persons with disabilities in advancing disability inclusion and improving access to rights and services.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants emphasized the importance of translating the studies’ findings into practical action, developing mechanisms to institutionalize inclusion across governmental and civil society institutions, and strengthening coordination among official and local stakeholders. These efforts aim to ensure that the rights and needs of persons with disabilities are prioritized across all sectors.

These efforts are part of the “Strengthening the Inclusion and Resilience of Local Communities in the West Bank” project, implemented by QADER in partnership with CBM Global and with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is being implemented in 15 towns and cities across the governorates of Hebron, Bethlehem and Salfit, with the aim of promoting inclusion, participation and community accountability, while supporting local communities in responding to the rights and needs of persons with disabilities.