A/HRC/22/35 electricity crisis. Both were detained for a day and reportedly harassed and ill-treated by female police. 50. In an incident on 26 September 2012, a demonstration blaming the de facto authorities for extreme poverty and unemployment was forcibly dispersed by the de facto authorities’ security forces in El-Boureij refugee camp. 51. In an incident on 6 November 2012, around 50 people, mostly women, organized a peaceful gathering in Gaza City, to protest the continued stalemate in national reconciliation. Information received by OHCHR indicates that the de facto authorities’ police forcibly dispersed the gathering by beating several participants with sticks. The de facto authorities’ Ministry of Interior claimed that the demonstration could not take place for reasons of public order, but also regretted the “wrong acts by policemen”. The Ministry announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the incident. 41 52. Incidents of intervention in the work of civil society organizations were reported. In July 2012, the deputy director of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, a West Bank-based non-governmental organization, and seven of the Gaza-based board members were prevented from travelling abroad in relation to the syndicate’s elections. Reportedly, the deputy director of the syndicate disclosed that he was summoned by the de facto authorities’ Attorney-General and questioned about the syndicate’s elections in the West Bank. He noted that he was asked to sign an oath to not work for the syndicate any more, which he refused to do.42 Women’s rights 4. 53. Local human rights organizations estimated that four women were killed in the name of honour. On 23 December 2011, a 45-year-old woman from Al-Sheikh Radwan was killed by her nephew by strangulation, allegedly to “maintain the family’s honour”.43 Similarly, on 22 March 2012, a 22-year-old girl from Khan Younis was admitted to AlNasser hospital suffering serious health complications due to poison, allegedly because she had attempted to commit suicide. Although she received medication on the same day, resulting in a significant improvement of her health, one of her relatives came to the hospital and shot and killed her.44 The information available to OHCHR indicates that the de facto authorities have not made serious efforts to investigate these cases.45 C. The Palestinian Authority 1. The ending of security vetting based on political belief or affiliation 54. In September 2007, the Palestinian Authority Cabinet issued a decision requiring “security vetting” by the Palestinian Authority security services for public sector 41 42 43 44 45 14 Press release of 7 November 2012, www.moi.gov.ps/en/news/35714/Important-press-release-issuedby-Ministry-of-Interior-about-what-happened-in-unknown-soldier-square-in-Gaza. PCHR, press release of 2 August 2012 (footnote 40). PCHR, press release of 26 December 2011, www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7975:pchrcondemns-killing-of-palestinian-woman-in-gaza-to-qmaintain-family-honorq&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194. PCHR, press release of 25 March 2012, www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8287:pchrcondemns-murder-of-woman-on-the-ground-of-family-honor-in-khan-yunis&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194. Al Mezan e-mail to OHCHR, 11 November 2012.