Ranan Issa from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) spoke about her advocacy to change family laws in Palestine at the event “The Rise of Family Values: Strategies for Family Law Reform.”
Historically, family laws in Palestine were governed by religious institutions, with each religion applying its own laws, resulting in contradictory legal standards. A turning point came in 2013, when women started a critical dialogue within the ELCJHL. Their questions about legal inequality and exclusion from leadership roles led to a formal letter to the Bishop, which initiated a process of legal reform. Despite facing resistance, particularly on issues like equal inheritance and divorce, persistent discussions grounded in theology and real-life stories moved the conversation forward.
By 2015, the church adopted a reformed family law ensuring gender equality in marriage, inheritance, and divorce. The appointment of the first female judge in Palestine and the ordination of the first female Palestinian pastor in 2023 marked further milestones. These changes, driven internally by women’s advocacy was supported by Faith to Action Network and the YW4A programme. They underscore that justice and faith are not opposing forces but can strengthen one another. Most importantly, this legal change has sparked similar efforts amongst religious institutions in Jordan and the wider region.
Hosted by: Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law and Sweden, Zambia, UN Women, UN Human Rights Special Procedures, and the Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law, including ACT Alliance and Act Church of Sweden.
