On March 8 the International Women's day, Women FM, a new radio station based in Ramallah in the West Bank, is broadcasting special programs on Palestinian women's situation to celebrate the day.

Women FM, which had its first broadcast last July and broadcasts programs on Palestinian women's position and the difficulties they are facing in the society, is the first Arab language radio station in the Middle East of its kind to defend women's rights.

Maysoon Oudeh, director of the radio station, told Xinhua that Women FM is a commercial and a nonpolitical specialized radio station that aims at entertaining, educating the Palestinian women through programs, music and opening discussions.

"Our station focuses on women affairs and enabling them to talk about their aspirations and daily problems, mainly in their families and in the society as well as on the Israeli measures against women on checkpoints and in prisons," said Oudeh.

The founders of the radio station are looking forward to make the radio station a bridge between the society and the Palestinian women. "The radio station is always working on developing and improving its programs. It targets women of all ages and social levels," said Oudeh.

Rabeeha Diab, minister of women affairs in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), said she considers Women FM as a forum for women to express their views, talk about their daily problems and follow up their causes as well as trying to ease their pressure.

"The position of women is elevating after they managed to get lots of their rights despite humiliation and repression they faced either at home or in the streets by the Israeli occupation forces, " said Diab.

The PNA had earlier issued a decree that offers women working in all public and local fields a day off with pay on March 8.

The Palestinian women managed to occupy five portfolios in the Palestinian government, in addition to the post of Ramallah governor and the chairwoman of the Palestinian Central Statistic Bureau. However, the Palestinian women are hoping to achieve and gain more rights and progress and join the social and political life.

Layla Ghannam, the first ever woman who serves as Ramallah's governor, told Xinhua that the Palestinian women live in a special situation as they live in an area that is under the Israeli military occupation, adding that the Palestinian women suffer from hard living conditions over the past several years.

The Palestinian Central Statistic Bureau said that the Palestinian women represent 15 percent of the Palestinian labor force in 2010, while the percentage was 10 in 2001.