Jordan Times
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Study explores status of
Jordanian women’s political participation
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — Women deputies serving in the current Lower House failed to take
advantage of their legislative position to vote for laws that positively affect
women’s lives in Jordan, according to a UN study released on Tuesday.
“Female deputies did not take advantage of their presence in the Lower House to
push for draft bills that women have demanded to serve their causes,” said
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) National Programme Officer
Dana Khan Malhas.
“Instead, female deputies adopted their party’s stance, which was not in favour
of voting for draft laws guaranteeing women more rights,” added Malhas, who
presented the study.
Some of the draft laws that were voted down by the Lower House in 2003 were the
Khuloe Law, which allows women to divorce their husbands in return for monetary
compensation, and Article 340 of the Penal Code, which offers penalty exemptions
in cases where men kill their female relatives for committing adultery.
Women activists in Jordan criticised the Lower House for voting against the
bill, including four of the six female deputies, who either voted against the
bill or failed to show up for the session.
The study, entitled “Jordanian women’s participation in political life: An
analytical study of the performance of women MPs in the 14th Parliament,” was
launched on the occasion of the UN’s celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD).
It explored the status of Jordanian women’s political participation in the Lower
House since 2003, including the introduction of a six-seat women quota by the
government, and an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the quota
from a national perspective.
One of the findings of the study, prepared by UNIFEM and the Jordanian National
Commission for Women, was that the highest position a woman deputy achieved in
the Lower House was becoming assistant to the Lower House speaker on two
occasions.
The study said women deputies were unable to maintain a constant presence in the
Lower House’s permanent office because they competed for this seat through their
political blocs and not by uniting as one female bloc.
“Still, when female deputies were elected for the permanent office, they played
an active role in the decision-making process,” Malhas said, quoting the study’s
findings.
The study attributed women’s failure to reach the Lower House in larger numbers
to many social and political factors, including a lack of trust by Jordanian
society that women are capable of political work.
Other obstacles included the one-person, one-vote system, which deterred many
women from running for the elections, and lack of financial resources for female
candidates.
Her Royal Highness Princess Basma said the emphasis His Majesty King Abdullah
placed on women’s role in the democratic process, including elections, makes the
information in this study very timely.
“Jordanian women have achieved much over the years, but our pride in these
achievements should not lead us to a state of complacency as much as inspire and
motivate us towards addressing the challenges that still need to be addressed,”
Princess Basma said.
“I hope that we will take this up as a priority at all levels, local, national
and regional. Sufficient resources and political will to effect change are
needed. However, the responsibility is not that of the state alone, it extends
to everyone, both collectively and individually,” she added.
The Princess praised the Senate’s recent call to mainstream gender in future
government budgets, saying she hoped the senators’ call will be adopted by the
government next year.
Princess Basma commended the work of the UN organisations in Jordan and their
continued support of women’s issues.
She expressed appreciation to UNIFEM and Director of the Arab States Regional
Office Haifa Abu Ghazaleh for their untiring work over the last decade in
Jordan.
During yesterday’s event, the UNIFEM Arab States Regional Office honoured
Princess Basma by commemorating her 10th year as UNIFEM goodwill ambassador.
The Princess, who was appointed UNIFEM goodwill ambassador in 1996, has been
extensively involved in women’s issues for many years, both in Jordan and
through international channels.
She has assisted UNIFEM in its work to ensure that development policies,
programmes and resources address the realities of women’s lives and respond to
women’s needs and contributions.
Princess Basma also acts as goodwill ambassador to UNDP and UNFPA and draws on
this extensive complementary experience to promote the rights of all women.
UN Resident Coordinator Luc Stevens, read a statement by UNIFEM Executive
Director Noeleen Heyzer to Princess Basma in recognition of her decade of
service as UNIFEM goodwill ambassador.
“I am expressing our heartfelt appreciation for your leadership in advancing
women throughout the world, in your region and in your country,” Heyzer said.
“It is especially fitting, that on this IWD, UNIFEM takes the opportunity to
recognise your continuing commitment and support to our work at the national,
regional and global levels since your 1996 appointment as UNIFEM goodwill
ambassador, she added.
“We value your long-term personal involvement, which has succeeded to bring
together major stakeholders from all sectors to work together, hand-in-hand, to
improve the lives of all people, and particularly, the lives and status of
women,” said Heyzer.
In his address yesterday, Stevens said Jordan has taken great strides in the
advancement and empowerment of women.
“IWD is a day to celebrate the gains Jordanian women have made over the years
but also to bring attention to the obstacles they still face… Building up on
those accomplishments is needed in order for women to become active players in
the development process,” he added.
Stevens also paid tribute to all UN partners in development, on behalf of the UN
agencies in Jordan.