The First Palestine Arab Women's Congress, also First Arab Women's Congress, or the Palestinian Arab Women's Congress was a women's rights conference held in Jerusalem on 26 October 1929. [1] [2] It was organised by the Arab Women's Association of Palestine and was their inaugural event. [3]
Intended to act as a political catalyst for women in Palestine, [3] it marked a turning point in their political determination. [1] It was attended by 200 women. [4] The congress established that Palestinian women had a range of concerns, [5] but those of highest priority were their opposition to the Balfour Declaration, opposition to Zionist immigration to Palestine and opposition to the violence of British police. [6] The congress sent a delegation of participants to present their concerns during the conference to the High Commissioner of Jerusalem, [3] travelling to his residence in vehicles. [6] [1] The congress was highly organised, with the press alerted to its convening and actions in advance. [3] They emphasised peaceful demonstration and means of protest, such as sit-ins and using telegrams to share their demands, rather than violence. [7]