Palestine & the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Implications of Ratification Positive Discrimination to Accelerate the Process of Equality National data through ICHR and other sources herein indicates that women’s participation in economic and political life has declined. Despite the fact that women’s participation rate in the PLC increased to 12.9% due to the quota system adopted in 2006, this ratio is not enough to reflect women’s participation on the whole, especially in decision-making circles and expression of their visions, priorities and needs. The rate of women participating in the public institution decision-making circles is very weak compared to that of men. The rate of women who work as Assistant Under Secretaries in the Ministries amounts to 4% compared to 96% of men. Most of the women working in the public sector institutions are placed at grades (1-10), and at a rate of 32% compared to 68% of men. The rate of women working in the public sector in total amounted to 31% compared to 69% of men. The rate of women occupying decision-making posts at the Palestinian political parties also does not realistically reflect their political participation; for example, one woman only was appointed as a member of Fatah Central Committee in 2009. The rate of women occupying decision making posts in the other the Palestinian political parties - according to the data of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in 2006 - was 10% in the PFLP; 19.5% in the Central Committee of DFLP in the West Bank and 16.5% in the Gaza Strip; 19% in the Central Committee of the Palestinian Democratic Federation; 20% in the Central Committee of the Struggle Front and 25% in the different levels of the Palestinian Arab Front. Though the rate of women working in the political public sector reached 29.3% in 2008, their participation in decision-making circles remains low. Only 6% of them work as Assistant Undersecretaries; 12.9% as Director Generals; and 10.3% as Directors. The rate of the Palestinian women ambassadors increased to 5.4% in 2008 but is still very low. Women’s participation in the Palestinian military judiciary does not exceed 2% of the staff of this sector and 3% in the police service. Such data reflects a very weak representation of Palestinian women and needs to be increased. Similarly, the data of the Judiciary, the Public Prosecution and Sharia’ Judiciary indicate that the rate of women working in the civil judiciary is 15.1% in the West Bank; 5.5% in the Public Prosecution; 1% 33