

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
Global
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Browse by tag
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 04AMMAN2552, JORDANIAN WOMEN ACTIVISTS AT ODDS OVER NATIONAL
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
04AMMAN2552 | 2004-04-01 14:26 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Amman |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
011426Z Apr 04
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002552
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2014
TAGS: KWMN PGOV KDEM JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN WOMEN ACTIVISTS AT ODDS OVER NATIONAL
STRATEGY
Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d)
-------
SUMMARY
-------
¶1. (C) Infighting among Jordanian women's groups has
hindered development of a coordinated national strategy for
advancing women's rights in Jordan. Several leading women's
groups boycotted a recent conference to discuss women's role
in political development, saying that the organizing group --
which happens to be headed by the GOJ spokesperson -- did not
sufficiently consult with them prior to scheduling the event.
Several groups aired their gripes during a meeting on March
21 with the Prime Minister, who agreed to chair a national
conference in May in the hopes of gaining consensus. The
fray underscores the competitiveness inherent to the
personality-driven women's and NGO movements in Jordan.
Unfortunately, the sniping is hindering their collective
ability to move their agenda forward. End Summary.
--------------------------------------------- ---
DISPUTE EMERGES OVER WOMEN'S "NATIONAL STRATEGY"
--------------------------------------------- ---
¶2. (U) Based on meetings with women's groups in recent
months seeking input for the GOJ's political and social
reform agenda, Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez charged them
with developing a coordinated plan for advancing women's
rights in Jordan. The Jordanian National Commission for
Women (JNCW), headed by King Abdullah's aunt, Princess Basma,
first formulated a women's national strategy in 1993, and is
in the process of updating it. According to JNCW official
Ibtisam Atiyat, the strategy has five pillars: legislation,
human security, social protection, economic empowerment and
participation in public life, the media, and communication.
¶3. (U) However, differences among women's groups emerged
after the Jordan chapter of "Sisterhood Is Global Institute"
(SIGI) (headed by Minister of State and GOJ spokesperson Asma
Khader) drafted its own "national strategy" and scheduled a
conference on March 24 to discuss political development in
Jordan. Complaining publicly that they were not sufficiently
consulted about the document or the conference preparations,
six major women's groups, including the JNCW, rejected the
document and boycotted the meeting. Amneh Zoubi, President
of the Jordanian Women's Union (JWU) -- one of the oldest and
most active women's NGOs in Jordan -- said that SIGI should
not have taken the lead on such an important project because
the group represents only a tiny portion of Jordanian women.
She claims SIGI only invited women's groups to attend the
opening ceremony of the meeting, and criticized SIGI's
document saying women's organizations were not sufficiently
consulted about the language and priorities.
¶4. (C) JNCW Secretary General Amal Sabbagh told poloff that
a draft she saw included issues outside the realm of women's
empowerment, such as a demand to abolish the State Security
court. She added: "As a woman, there are more important and
pressing issues we need to focus on," including legislation
advancing women's legal rights, economic empowerment, and
enhancing women's political voice and social status. She
claims SIGI prepared at least four versions of the document
and "no one knows which is the final one."
¶5. (U) For their part, SIGI officials say they consulted
with other organizations about the document, which it
initially drafted in January 2003 and presented to Parliament
in June. Executive Director Lina Qoura said in a press
interview: "Several organizations and specialists
participated in drafting the document. But others refused to
share their thoughts and ideas for various reasons." She
added that SIGI approached several NGOs asking them to
prepare papers for the conference, "but the majority of them
apologized, saying they were busy and did not have time to
prepare the document." She stressed that the document was
not one of the major themes in the conference and that it was
going to be presented as one of the participant's working
papers. Disputing Zoubi's claims, Khader told reporters
that invitations were sent to all women's organizations for
the conference and those "who answered the call took part in
the committee that drafted the document."
--------------------------------------------- -
PM MEDIATES, AGREES TO HEAD ANOTHER CONFERENCE
--------------------------------------------- -
¶6. (U) The dispute prompted the boycotting groups to submit
a memo complaining about SIGI's initiatives to the Prime
Minister, who met with them on March 21 to discuss their
concerns. Emphasizing the need to coordinate, al-Fayez
responded to the discord by agreeing to chair another women's
conference in May, this time hosted by the JNCW, focusing on
political development. Sabbagh says that the JNCW's
conference will include a wide spectrum of women's and civil
society groups to ensure that all views are adequately
represented.
¶7. (U) Senator May Abu Samen, head of one of the boycotting
organizations, the Jordanian National Federation of Women
(JNFW), said the meeting was positive and "the Prime Minister
was very supportive and understanding of all the points of
view that were put forward for discussion." However, she
said he "stressed the need to cooperate and coordinate our
efforts in order to realize King Abdullah's vision of
empowering the status of women in Jordan." Nancy Bakir,
human rights adviser to the Prime Minister, said in a press
interview: "I feel with the women in Jordan, when they see
that all their hard work and efforts over the many years are
being... monopolized by just one private institution." She
suggested the boycott of the conference was within the
groups' rights to freely express themselves and in line with
the democratic process evolving in Jordan.
¶8. (C) However, Sabbagh singled out Khader for particular
criticism, saying privately that during the women's meeting
with the Prime Minister, it was clear that Khader was
speaking in her capacity as SIGI head, not as Minister of
State. She said that Khader, as an attorney and human rights
and women's activist, over the years has worked hard to
advance women's rights in Jordan. However, Sabbagh
criticized her domineering tactics, suggesting Khader is
abusing her government position to advance her personal
interests, and that of her organization.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶9. (C) The personality clashes and competitiveness among
women's groups in Jordan overshadow much good work that is
being done by individuals and organizations to empower women
economically, politically, and socially. Poor communication
also hinders their ability to work together effectively, pool
resources, identify needs and gaps in assistance, and avoid
overlaps in programs. Personality differences, and Asma
Khader's forceful style, probably were contributing factors
in this particular disagreement. Ironically, many activists
tell us that it was Khader, through her ministerial position,
who paved the way for the PM's outreach to women's groups.
Ultimately, the lack of cohesion hurts women's efforts to
advance their agenda with the GOJ and the public, as well as
their ability to attract additional resources in the midst of
competing priorities. It also presents a potential challenge
to U.S. efforts to support women's empowerment programs in
Jordan.
Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman or access the site
through the State Department's SIPRNET home page.
GNEHM