it elaborated four governing principles citizenship empowerment gender mainstreaming and innovation these principles informed the plan s key lines of action political and social participation economic participation coresponsibility education innovation science health communication and media diversity and social inclusion violence foreign and development cooperation policy and guarantee of the right to equality the previous ministry for equality and the women s institute monitored the development of the measures and actions included in the plan for example the palestinian authority adopted the crosssectoral national gender strategy which serves as a cornerstone for the elaboration of the palestinian development plan for the next three years study participants emphasised the critical importance of these strategies as a means to uphold and safeguard women s rights in the aftermath of the arab spring and fasttrack women into politics and public service