The history of the feminist struggle bore great names such as the prominent Jordanian politician #Wasfi_AlTal, #Samiha_AlMajali, wife of two-time Jordanian Prime Minister #Hazza_AlMajali and the queens and princesses of the #Hashemite_Family.
The feminist movement has always been and is still a part of the national movement, in every country that sought political independence.
Feminism, despite its enemies claims, is neither a movement from abroad, nor is it a crime to be held against a woman when she demands her rights. Rather, it is the awareness of men and women of the importance of fairness to all, and the elimination of injustice as a gateway to comprehensive social justice.
National struggles and the desire for freedom and democracy always ignite important intellectual discussions related to the rights of all members of society, and women are no exception to these rights.
In 1944, the first Jordanian women’s association was formed at the presence of Her Highness Princess Mesbah (later Her Majesty Queen Mesbah) and under the name “The Women’s Social Solidarity Society”, and aimed at caring for poor women who are unable to complete their education, helping them with financial aid and work to improve their living conditions, as well as training them in housekeeping and raising children, sewing, and raising awareness among them through lectures.
In 1954, the “Arab Women’s Union” was founded by a group of women lead by Professor Emily Bsharat, and it constituted a qualitative leap from voluntary and charitable work to demanding social, economic and political rights.
Among the Union’s goals, what was stated in its constitution, is to combat illiteracy, raise the level of women morally, socially and economically, prepare them to exercise their rights as citizens, and strengthen the bonds of cooperation between Arab women and the women of the world and strengthen the bonds of peace.
The union led a number of campaigns for women to obtain their social and political rights, and campaigns of solidarity with Arab issues, especially in light of the events that the region experienced, such as the tripartite aggression against Egypt and the Algerian revolution and support for the struggle of Palestinian women.
At the local level, the Union demanded the amendment of the Personal Status Law to restrict polygamy and limit divorce. It also demanded that Jordanian women be given their political rights and carried out a campaign in this regard. It submitted a memorandum to the government to amend the electoral law and grant women the right to vote and run for office, and their right to equal opportunities with males in higher education and access to higher positions in the state, and the expansion of education, especially in the countryside and remote areas.
Mrs. Samiha Al-Majali, wife of the prominent Jordanian two-time Prime Minister Hazza Al-Majali, also worked in the field of social work, and was the president of the “Jordanian Women’s Renaissance Association”, which was founded in 1954.
After the fourth House of Representatives was convened from 1954 to 1956, the government of Said Al-Mufti agreed to some of the demands of the women’s movement. The Cabinet’s decision was issued approving the draft election, which gave “educated” women without “illiteracy” the right to vote, not the right to run, however a not what a man is entitled to, whether educated or illiterate to both vote and run.
Due to unstable internal conditions, the fifth government of President Ibrahim Hashem in 1957 declared a state of emergency and martial law, dissolving all civil society organizations, including parties, trade unions and women’s organizations
Since 1956 and prior to the declaration of a state of emergency, Charitable Societies Law No. (12) of 1956 was issued, dedicating the re-establishment of the concept of charitable work again. To return women’s associations to the circle of voluntary and charitable work and to prevent them practically from practicing human rights work and defending women
’s rights in all fields.
Under these circumstances, some women worked secretly until the beginning of the seventies, only to return to their work publicly due to internal and regional conditions imposed by the 1967 war of the West Bank.
In 1974, Her Majesty Queen Zein Al Sharaf received a women’s delegation headed by Mrs. Samiha Al Majali to discuss amending the electoral law and granting women the right to vote and run for office to increase their participation in public and political life.
The government of the prominent Wasfi al-Tal also sponsored the establishment of a local party that brings together national figures, called the “National Union Party,” and it had a women’s sector in preparation for the establishment of a women’s organization.
During the following years, many democratic, leftist and Islamic committees were formed, followed by the formation of women’s committees in various professional and labor unions, political parties, chambers of industry and commerce, and others. Women’s, cultural and sports clubs and organizations were also established.
The Jordanian National Committee for Women’s Affairs was established as a national mechanism to advance the status of women in Jordan by virtue of a cabinet decision in 1992 and headed by HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal.
The Council of Ministers decided in 1996 to consider the committee the reference in all official bodies and a representative of the Kingdom in everything related to women’s activities and women’s affairs
Written by: #Mounir_Daibes
Translated by: @talziees
? The post is a brief version of what is written in the book: “The Participation of Jordanian Women in Public and Political Life During 100 Years.”
English
Whether public transportation or taxis, children and women are often victims of a wide range of sexual offenses that fall into three categories: verbal, non-verbal, and physical. Here are some ways you should take caution and be proactive:
? Always take a picture of the license plate before entering the vehicle.
? Always have your destination’s route active on your GPS and preferably shared with a friend or family member.
? Call out any unwanted route change and contact friends/family/authorities if you’re still drifting farther away from your destination.
?If a driver stops cooperating or says/does something disrespectful, harassing, or objectifying, firmly inform them that you have their license plate, that your family already knows your location and are waiting for you, and that you are not afraid to press charges.
?If you want to stop the ride and you don’t think they’ll comply, try asking to pass by any corner store to “get something while on the way” and when they do stop the vehicle, say you’ve changed your mind and would like to end the ride and pay your fee.
?Even if you’re not 100% sure of the roads on which you’re driving, try not to show that, and don’t say you’re new to town even if that is the case.
?Keep a safe distance between yourself and any other passenger while in any transit as they might be a possible accomplice to the driver.
? If legal in your area, keep self-defense tools with you, such as pepper spray or tasers.
? Learn primary self-defense through classes offered in your area or for free on YouTube.
? What are some tips you might have for fellow women and children in transit?
Written and Translated by: @talziees
According to the Gulf Cybercrime Government Website: The number of cybercrimes in Gulf countries is 30,000 crimes annum.
If you think that you cannot fall victim to “electronic extortion”, perhaps you should rethink your situation by doing your reading, and even if you don’t post photos and videos on social media (publicly or privately), you still might be an easy catch for a skilled hacker, or someone who recovered the contents of your mobile phone after it has been sold.
So, what do you do if you get blackmailed?
? Keep you power! Before anything, do not try to respond to the blackmailer, or him not to publish your photos, as they may sense fear and go even further with their demands. They might even interpret hostility in your tone and out their threats immediately.
? Never respond to their request, whether by paying money or giving them your banking information, because your response the first time will encourage them to ask for more money or more photos and videos in the future, strengthening their hold on you.
? Never delete the content that you’re getting blackmailed with, no matter how worried you are or feel ashamed of it appearing in public, nor any threatening messages because that deletes evidence against the very possible conviction of the blackmailer, and it in their possession only.
? While you shouldn’t get rid of the incriminating evidence, you should block the blackmailer from following your accounts on social media and change all passwords for your accounts, from emails, to online banking accounts, to social media accounts, or any other that have any type of sensitive information, as little as the country you live in.
? It is not your fault, and you are not alone, so do not isolate yourself. It is best to talk to someone to help you through these times.
? You are encouraged contact the concerned authorities, which would be the Department for Combating Electronic Crimes (present in all countries), as it is the most capable and fastest party in dealing with such crimes, and then formally charging the blackmailer.
Translated by: @talziees
If you have been threatened or subjected to any form of violence, please take the following steps:
1) Gather any evidence you have; write down your current situation and describe what is happening to you, with the names of those trying to harm you.
2) Document everything you can about your life. This can include your home address and workplace and the location of the person who threatens you with as many details as you can. Put this document in an easily accessible place others can find in case of emergency.
3) If you have someone you can trust, give a copy of this document. Do not send anything to someone you know only through social media or a person with whom you have a superficial relationship, even if they claim to have your best interest at heart.
The ‘Mega Limited’ application allows you to save all your information safely.
4) If you decide to escape, you must have an emergency bag that holds your most essential documents. This can include documents belonging to your children, your money/bank cards, car and house keys, and all other essentials. It is preferred to intrust someone who can be discreetly available to take you to a place where the abuser would not know or expect; you can also agree on a code-word with the intrusted person to know you are in danger when you text or say it to them.
5) During the occurrence of violence, try your best to stay away from the kitchen and bathroom, not wear accessories, and lure the abuser into opening rooms, like to where there’s an entrance or to a window close to the neighbors.
6) Learn self-defense, even if this could be life-saving through YouTube.
7) Remove any photos, conversations, or numbers that may put you at risk from your phone.
By your side. At your service.
Writers: @emy.dawud & #Noor_AlKhuzai
Translated by: @talziees
The demands of the feminist movement in Jordan:
1. Amending the constitution so that the word ‘sex’ is added to Article VI of it, so that it would reflect ‘equality between Jordanians’.
2. Cancelling the general amnesty given to criminals against victimized women, and the abolition of Articles (98), (99), (330), (340), and (52) that falsely justify and reduce the penalty for the murderer.
3. Amending the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence to ensure more protection for women, and allocating a specialized court to look into domestic violence cases (the current domestic violence law stipulates its existence but it has not been implemented so far).
4. Improving care homes to be in line with full and dignified human rights.
5. Cancelling administrative detention of battered women under the false and restricting pretext of “protection”.
6. Amending Articles (15), (16) and (9) to give equal rights to men and women in marriage, divorce, guardianship and other family matters.
7. Setting the minimum age of 18 for marriage, and allowing a woman of legal age to independently marry without the permission of the males in her family.
8. Legalizing abortion under certain conditions such as rape, as well as granting women the choice to do so before the onset of a pulse (that is, before the seventh week), as well as in the presence of a threat to the physical and psychological health of the pregnant woman, and other conditions that affect the rightful choice of all pregnant women and girls.
9. Halting the forcible separation of women from their children if their children are deemed ‘illegitimate’.
10. Amending the Nationality Law to allow Jordanian mothers to pass the Jordanian nationality to their children, since it is passed on through the father only to date.
11. Granting equality of inheritance between siblings regardless of their gender.
12. Cancelling the ‘Obligatory Will’ or including the children of the deceased woman in it.
13. Repealing any laws that prevent women from engaging in specific career paths.
14. Strengthening the role of women in political participation by amending the method of calculating the quota that currently limits women’s access to parliament. Also, we demand the abolition of the single vote, which affects the composition of parliament and enhances the role of tribes, and deprives qualified people of access to parliament.
15. Amending laws concerning Refugees, Migrant Workers, Women Trafficking, Associations Law, and restrictions on Civil Society Organizations in Freedom of Association, and the holding of Public Meetings.
16. Granting women (18+) complete independence in housing matters.
17. Enacting deterrent laws against sexual harassers and rapists (including marital rape).
? “Any laws that reduce humanity, are in fact, not laws, but rather a framework for a crime.”
Written by: @emy.dawud
Translated by: @talziees