The foundations on which the public spaces policy was based

Legal Framework and Governmental Plans

The Public Spaces Policy for local authorities is based on the laws and regulations in force in the State of Palestine including:

• Palestinian Local Authorities Law No.1 of 1997 and amendments

• The Law of Towns, Villages and Buildings Planning Law No. 79 of 1966 prevailing in the West Bank, and Town Planning Ordinance No. 28 of 1936 in the Gaza Strip and their amendments.

• Local Government Sector Strategy (2017-2022).

• The government’s cross-sectoral plans (2017-2022), including the cross-sectoral environmental plan, cross-sectoral gender plan and cross-sectoral youth plan.

• The National Development Plan (2017-2022).

Purpose and Objectives

The Public Spaces Policy aims to:

• Encourage Palestinian local authorities to work on developing and improving public spaces within the scope of local authorities in order to improve the quality of life of Palestinian citizens.

• Be compatible with the global vision of public spaces, especially the vision of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), so that the goals of the 2030 Agenda (for Sustainable Development) are set: Achieve sub-goal No. (7) of (SDG11) in sustainable cities and human settlements which affirms the development of cities to be safe, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. So that a public space becomes an essential element for other strategic goals, such as: (SDG3) which is concerned with ensuring healthy lives for all, (SDG5) which aims to end violence and discrimination against women, and provide equal opportunities, (SDG6) which is concerned with equitable access to water and utility and (SDG13) which is concerned with preserving the environment while taking climate change into account.

• Adopt strategies for the inclusion of local authorities’ public spaces in the Strategic Development Planning methodology as a tool and means for local development and its institutionalization.

• Lay the foundations for the preparation, planning, implementation, management, follow up and operation of public spaces and periodically update these plans at the local level.

source :
https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2024/08/public_space_policy_for_lgus_july2024-.pdf