The Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies at Yarmouk University, in collaboration with the "Terre des Hommes" Foundation, held an awareness training workshop on the legal framework for children in conflict with the law in Jordan under Jordanian Juvenile Law as part of Plan International's "She Leads" program. The trainer, Farah Ishaqat of the Terre des Hommes Foundation, presented the workshop, which covered a number of topics, including the specific jurisdiction of the juvenile court and the age of criminal responsibility for children, as well as the distinction between a child in conflict with the law and a child in need of protection and care. This is the first of many seminars that the center plans to offer to increase university students' legal understanding on a range of themes.
At the end of the program, Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, the Center Director, distributed certificates of participation to the students.
The Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies held an esteemed training session at Yarmouk University. Field researchers, volunteering with the Center as part of their project to increase community involvement in municipalities, attended the event. The Integrity Project is collaborating with the Al-Hayat Rased Center to carry out this initiative.
Contributed to by the EU and the Spanish Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation
AECID Jordan
AECID
European Union in Jordan
Jordan Monitor _ RASED Jordan
Yarmouk University
At the opening of the symposium, "The Role of the Women's Quota in Promoting Women's Political Participation," Dr. Samer Samara, a representative of Yarmouk University's president, presided over the proceedings." The Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies and the Deanship of Student Affairs co-sponsored the event, featuring Dr. Jumana Al-Dahamsheh as one of the speakers. Drs. Betty Al-Saqrat (Nama Party), Reem Samawi (National Charter Party), and Azm Party (National Charter Party).
Samara began his speech by highlighting the significance of women's involvement in politics and the need to go beyond the women's quota in order to fully include them. This is particularly important because women in Jordan have a long history of making positive contributions to the country's economy, society, and politics.
He said that as a national institution, Yarmouk University values women's contributions, their capacity to take charge, and their role in advancing the university's modernization and development efforts.
Dr. Moatasem Al-Shatnawi, the University Dean of Student Affairs, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of women's quotas as a starting point for women's access to politics, as well as the potential for Jordanian women to access and assume political positions outside of the quota given the right social and economic conditions.s. She went on to say that women's quotas serve as a blueprint for women's empowerment in Jordan.
According to Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, director of the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, the institution is committed to facilitating events and programs that empower Jordanian women and help them excel in the academic, social, political, and economic spheres.
In addition to their many other responsibilities, she lauded the symposium's attendees for showing that Jordanian women can be active in politics.
Al-Dhamsheh argued that women's engagement in politics is an absolute must, not an optional extra. Looking back at the history of women's participation in Jordanian politics reveals that this is a political and civil right guaranteed by the Constitution, international charters and treaties, laws, and regulations. In 1978, women were the first to participate in official councils, which were then known as the National Council. The 1989 elections marked the first time that women in Jordan could cast ballots and run for office; however, they did not secure a single seat in the House of Representatives that year. In 1993, for the first time in Jordanian history, a female candidate named Tujan Faisal became a member of the House of Representatives. The speaker, a woman with a parliamentary seat, made the point that six out of one hundred and ten legislative seats were reserved for female candidates following an amendment to the Election Law of 2001 in 2003 that established a women's quota system.
She went on to explain the history of the quota system in electoral laws, including its initial implementation in the 14th House of Representatives elections, in which women were allotted a quota, and its subsequent evolution in the 16th House of Representatives elections in 2010. The House of Representatives passed election legislation that retained the single vote, increased the number of legislative seats from 110 to 120, and raised the quota seats from 6 to 12. According to the Election Law for the House of Representatives No. 25 of 2012 and its amending Law No. 28,, the number of seats designated for the women's quota was also raised from twelve to fifteen. The House of Representatives had a total of 150 members in 2012, with 27 seats added to the national list and 108 seats added to the local districts. The Election Law for the House of Representatives No. 6 of 2016 lowered the number of seats in the 18th House of Representatives elections. The Election Law for the House of Representatives No. 6 of 2016 reserved fifteen council seats, or 11.5% of the total, for women.
However, Al-Saqrat countered by saying that everyone should become involved in politics if they want to see the kind of good change they want to see in Jordan and that the parties running in the upcoming election would have a disproportionate amount of say over public policy.
Since the establishment of the Jordanian state, women have played and continue to play important roles as mothers, teachers, directors, legislators, and ministers; however, it is imperative that women have more confidence in themselves and their abilities before venturing into politics. So, let's work together to ensure that women can fully participate in politics without quotas. While quotas have their benefits, including putting more women in positions of power, it is imperative that Jordanian women demonstrate their capacity to fulfill this responsibility.
Noting that the quota does not necessarily generate the best, Al-Saqrat continued: Women can't fulfill their political role unless they are monetarily empowered, have psychological assistance, and work in equitable circumstances.
Aside from confirming that the women's quota was a chance for Jordanian women to show what they can do in politics, Al-Samawi emphasized the significance of women's involvement in parties as a means to achieve the desired positive political change in the next phase.
As evidence of its capacity to grow, modernize, and advance the wheel of sustainable development in our beloved motherland, she lauded Yarmouk University for its unwavering commitment to women's empowerment and the many leadership positions held by women.
Dr. Tariq Al-Nasser, the Center's Deputy Director, presided over the symposium, during which participants addressed audience questions and concerns on women's political engagement and quota-related topics.
مندوبا عن رئيس جامعة اليرموك، رعى نائب رئيس الجامعة لشؤون التخطيط والتطوير وشؤون البحث العلمي والجودة الدكتور سامر سمارة افتتاح فعاليات ندوة "دور الكوتا النسائية في تعزيز المشاركة السياسية للمرأة"، التي نظمها مركز الأميرة بسمة لدراسات المرأة الأردنية وعمادة شؤون الطلبة، بمشاركة الدكتورة جمانة الدهامشة من حزب نماء، والدكتورة بيتي السقرات من حزب عزم، والدكتورة ريم سماوي من حزب الميثاق الوطني.
وأكد سمارة في بداية حديثه على أهمية مشاركة المرأة في الحياة السياسية وضرورة توسيع نطاق مشاركتها خارج نطاق الكوتا النسائية سيما وأن المرأة الأردنية لطالما كانت قادرة على إحداث التغيير الإيجابي في المجتمع الأردني بمختلف قطاعاته الاقتصادية والاجتماعية والسياسية.
وأكد أن جامعة اليرموك كمؤسسة وطنية تؤمن بأهمية دور المرأة وقدرتها على توليها المناصب القيادية، ومشاركتها في دفع مسيرة التطوير والتحديث في جامعة اليرموك نحو الأفضل.
بدوره أشار عميد شؤون الطلبة في الجامعة الدكتور معتصم الشطناوي إلى أهمية تمكين المرأة من المشاركة في الحياة السياسية وتذليل الصعوبات أمامها لتكون قادرة على الاضطلاع بدورها في المجتمع، لافتا إلى أن الكوتا النسائية كانت بمثابة البداية لتسهيل وصول المرأة للحياة السياسية، مؤكدا ان النساء الأردنيات قادرات على الوصول وتولي المناصب السياسية خارج نطاق الكوتا اذا ما أتيحت لهن الظروف الاجتماعية والاقتصادية الملائمة.
مديرة مركز الدكتورة بتول المحيسن أكدت حرص مركز الاميرة بسمة لدراسات المرأة الأردنية على تنظيم مختلف الأنشطة والفعاليات التي من شأنها تعزيز دور المرأة الأردنية وتنمية قدراتها للاضطلاع بدورها في مختلف المجالات السياسية والاجتماعية والأكاديمية والاقتصادية.
وثمنت جهود المشاركات في الندوة اللواتي أثبتن قدرة المرأة الأردنية على الانخراط بالحياة السياسية إلى جانب العديد من المهام المُلقاة على عاتقها.
من جانبها أكدت الدهامشة ن مشاركة المرأة في الحياة السياسية ضرورة وليس ترفا فهو حق سياسي ومدني يضمنه الدستور والمواثيق والمعاهدات الدولية والقوانين والأنظمة، مستعرضة تاريخ مشاركة المرأة الأردنية في الحياة السياسية حيث كانت أول مشاركة للمرأة في المجالس الرسمية في عام 1978 في ما سمي آنذاك بالمجلس الوطني الاستشاري، ومع انتخابات 1989، فقد شاركت المرأة الأردنية ولأول مرة كناخبة ومرشحة، لكنها لم تحصل على أي مقعد في مجلس النواب عام 1989، في حين فازت مرشحة واحدة بعضوية مجلس النواب في العام 1993 هي توجان فيصل وكانت المرة الأولى في تاريخ البلاد التي تفوز فيها امرأة بمقعد بالبرلمان، لافتة إلى أنه وفي العام 2003 تم تعديل قانون الانتخابات لسنة 2001 حيث تم بموجب القانون إدخال نظام الكوتا النسائية، وتم بعد ذلك تم تخصيص (6) مقاعد للنساء (من أصل 110) في البرلمان.
وأوضحت كيفية تطور نظام الكوتا في قوانين الانتخاب حيث تم في انتخابات مجلس النواب 14 – تخصيص كوتا للنساء لأول مرة، ومن ثم انتخابات مجلس النواب 16 عام 2010 صدر قانون الانتخاب لمجلس النواب حيث أبقى على الصوت الواحد مع زيادة عدد مقاعد البرلمان من (110) الى (120) مقعداً وزيادة المقاعد المخصصة للكوتا من ستة مقاعد الى 12 مقعداً، كما تم زيادة عدد المقاعد المخصصة للكوتا النسائية من (12) الى (15) مقعداً بموجب قانون الانتخاب لمجلس النواب رقم (25) لعام 2012 والقانون المعدل له رقم (28) لعام 2012 ، كما تم استحداث (27) مقعداً للقوائم الوطنية و(108) للدوائر المحلية ليصبح العدد الإجمالي لمقاعد مجلس النواب (150) مقعداً، وفي انتخابات مجلس النواب 18 عام 2016 صدر قانون الانتخاب لمجلس النواب رقم 6 لعام 2016 وبموجبه فقد تم تخفيض عدد مقاعد المجلس الى (130) مقعداً خصص منها (15) مقعداً للكوتا النسائية بواقع (11.5%) من المقاعد الإجمالية.
بدورها أشارت السقرات إلى أهمية المشاركة السياسية لمختلف أفراد المجتمع ليكونوا أعضاء فاعلين ومحدثين للتغيير الإيجابي المنشود في المجتمع، لافتة إلى أن الأحزاب ستكون في المرحلة السياسية القادمة في الأردن ذات التأثير الأكبر في رسم السياسات.
وأكدت أن النساء بحاجة للإيمان بأنفسهن بشكل أكبر وأنهن قادرات على خوض المعترك السياسي باقتدار سيما وأن المرأة الأردنية ومنذ نشأة الدولة الأردنية كانت وما زالت الأم والمعلمة والمديرة والنائب والوزير لذلك يجب علينا توحيد الجهود للوصول إلى مشاركة سياسية للمرأة دون الحاجة للكوتا، مشيرة إلى أن إيجابيات الكوتا متمثلة في أنها مكنت المرأة من وضع قدمها على بداية الطريق في الحياة السياسية إلا أنه يتحتم على المرأة الأردنية ان تثبت أنها قادرة أداء هذا الدور.
وتابعت السقرات: إنه لتتمكن المرأة من أداء دورها السياسي يجب أن تتمكن اقتصاديا وأن يتوفر لها الدعم النفسي والظروف العادلة، مشيرة إلى أن من سلبيات الكوتا انها لا تفرز الأفضل دائما.
كما اكدت السماوي أن الكوتا النسائية كانت فرصة للمرأة الأردنية لاثبات ذاتها وقدرتها على المشاركة السياسية الفاعلة، إما كمرشحة أو ناخبة أو متطوعة أو مراقبة، مشددة على أهمية المشاركة في الأحزاب فهي تعتبر القادرة على التغيير الإيجابي السياسي المنشود خلال المرحلة القادمة.
وأشادت بدور جامعة اليرموك واهتمامها الدائم بالمرأة وتمكينها، وتقليدها العديد من المناصب القيادية في الجامعة حيث أنها أثبتت قدرتها على التطوير والتحديث والدفع بعجلة التنمية المستدامة في وطننا الغالي.
وفي نهاية الندوة التي أدراها نائب مدير المركز الدكتور طارق الناصر، أجابت المشاركات على أسئلة واستفسارات الحضور حول مشاركة المرأة السياسية، والأمور المتعلقة بالكوتا.
Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, Director of the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, kicked off the two-day educational awareness-raising workshop on "Yarmouk University's Regulations and Instructions," which targeted female administrators employed at the university. Dr. Safaa Al-Suwailemeen from the university's School of Law oversaw the workshop.
Al-Muhaisen emphasized Yarmouk University's eagerness to build community awareness of the various issues of concern to women through the combined efforts of its human resources, as well as its eagerness to enhance the capabilities of female administrative employees from the university's various colleges, departments, and scientific centers, enabling them to assume leadership roles and prove their competence in them, stressing the center's constant endeavor to empower women in various.
Al-Muhaisen stated that the workshop's goal was to empower female university administrators and prepare them to reflect on the information and experience they gain at the administrative and functional levels based on their legal awareness.
In addition, 25 administrative female university workers attended the session.
The President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, and the President of the Jordanian Women's Union Association, Amna Al-Zoubi, signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of consolidating and framing cooperation between the two sides in the field of exchanging experiences, academic studies, and training and awareness programs concerned with women.
Massad stressed that the signing of the memorandum of understanding comes within the context of Yarmouk University’s vision and its societal responsibility in consolidating cooperation with various national institutions and bodies concerned with women, society, and youth. He then indicated that the memo represents a new framework for exchanging experiences, studies, training and awareness programs with the Jordanian Women’s Union Association. He then added that the establishment of Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies at Yarmouk University came with the aim of involving women of the local community in the public and private sectors with women in the academic sector, which enhances and reflects the achievements of Jordanian women and their effective contribution to serving their community and country.
In return, Al-Zoubi stressed the importance of cooperation with a leading academic institution like Yarmouk University, which has been keen since its early beginnings to carry out societal responsibility, noting the Union’s aspiration to implement a number of joint programs and activities related to Jordanian women and their progress in cooperation with Yarmouk. She appreciated the efforts of Yarmouk University and its support of Jordanian women's issues as well as the University’s openness and constant keenness to communicate with civil society institutions and exchange experiences with them in a way that serves the Jordanian society.
The memo signing was attended by the University’s Vice Presidents, Professor Mousa Rababah and Professor Samer Samarah, the Director of Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women’s Studies, Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, and the Director of Public Relations and Media, Dr. Nawzat Abu Al-Asal.
The Aoun Jordan Private Association, in cooperation with the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women’s Studies and the Deanship of Student Affairs at Yarmouk University, launched the “Future of the Kingdom” initiative in celebration of the silver jubilee of His Majesty King Abdullah II assuming his constitutional powers, which aims to prepare and develop women leaders in particular and develop the capabilities of... youth social, economic, and political in general.
Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, director of the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, confirmed the Center's ongoing endeavor to enhance the role of Jordanian women and develop their capabilities in various fields so that they can carry out their role in the development of Jordanian society.
She pointed out that cooperation with the “Kingdom’s Future” initiative comes to fulfill the university’s role in building students’ capabilities and serving the local community, stressing the necessity of working on political education and possessing leadership skills, especially for female students, to help them raise their awareness and push them to set their goals.
Al-Muhaisen pointed out that this training targets university students to enable them to build their leadership skills and capabilities, enhance their social and political participation, and thus be able to perform their active and supportive roles for women.
In turn, the CEO of the Jordan Aoun Society, Nour Al-Duwairi, said that the “Future of the Kingdom” initiative aims to build women’s leadership skills in order to raise awareness among women and youth in all fields and self-development, which helps them determine their public and private goals.
Al-Duwairi pointed out that framing the mental image of women in traditional templates comes not only practically but also intellectually and socially, as the economic participation of Jordanian women constitutes 14%, despite the fact that the percentage of educated women in Jordan is 97%, while the percentage of Jordanian women’s participation in party life is 40.8%. While the percentages of women’s participation in leadership positions in parties certainly did not exceed a quarter, which means that the parties corrected their situation with a percentage of women and youth amounting to 20% for each category, which increased women’s membership, this did not correct the situation related to women assuming leadership positions in parties.
She explained that the “Future of the Kingdom” initiative came to correct social behaviors, change the mental image of women, and encourage women to discover themselves, their abilities, and their plans for the future, as they are not only half of society but also the educators of the second half, which makes them a cornerstone in the process of change towards the desired future in Jordan’s second centenary.
Al-Duwairi pointed out that the “Kingdom’s Future” initiative is divided into two tracks: “capable and active,” where “capable” is concerned with training young women and men, helping them identify and solve their problems, setting general and specific goals, helping them innovate and pioneer, raising awareness of the importance of electoral and partisan participation, and involving them in public work.
She pointed out that the “Qadira” track contains three main portfolios (social work, leadership and innovation, and political leadership), so that female students are distributed among the portfolios according to their desires so that communication, social, and self-development skills are honed, and then each portfolio is allocated to them to develop themselves in a conscious and mature manner. It encourages the integration of gender roles in accordance with the responsibilities and image of a conservative and cohesive Jordanian family while directing an “active” path for youth.
The Yarmouk University Student Union 2024 instructed the Deanship of Student Affairs and the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies to arrange a training discussion session for university staff.
According to Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, director of the Center, the Center and the Deanship are collaborating on workshops and training sessions to teach university staff about various instructions, especially those pertaining to the student body, and to qualify them to handle them effectively and accurately.
She emphasized that the university's cadres, including members of the administration and teaching bodies, should attend this session to learn about the changes made to the student union's new guidelines.
During his presentation of the workshop, Muwaffaq Al-Batayneh, assistant director of the department of cultural and artistic activities at the deanship, stated that its organization is in line with the deanship's directive to create a program of training and dialogue for university staff. The objective is to equip them to participate in the management of upcoming student merit, symbolized by the 29th session of the University Student Union Council elections. The institution plans to finish determining eligibility somewhere in the middle of the current school year's second semester.
As he went on to say, the deanship is doing everything it can to ensure that the election process comes out looking magnificent, as befits Yarmouk University and its long history.
We also presented the session in collaboration with Wasel Al-Omari, a member of the Deanship of Student Affairs' Student Bodies Department.
At a conference hosted by the Lutheran Charitable Federation, the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies was able to share its findings on the economic and social rights of Jordanian women, as well as the recommendations made by the Local Communities Alliance for the Universal Periodic Review. Her Excellency Haifa Al-Najjar, Jordan's Minister of Culture, graced the event.
As part of the project "The Rights-Based Approach: Women's Social and Economic Rights in Jordan from Local to Global," which involved holding dialogue sessions with a group of experts in the fields of gender-based violence and women's economic rights, LWF and its coalition partners in Jordan presented the recommendations of the shadow report of the Universal Periodic Review. The project also produced policy papers.
