JORDAN'S FAMILY PROTECTION PROJECT WINS UN PRIZE

UNCLAS AMMAN 008044 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI PHUM KWMN JO SUBJECT: JORDAN'S FAMILY PROTECTION PROJECT WINS UN PRIZE ¶1. (U) On December 10, the UN General Assembly President will present the Family Protection Project Management Team of Jordan one of six 2003 UN Prizes in the Field of Human Rights, which are awarded every five years. The Family Protection Project is being recognized as "a ground-breaking initiative that...helped to lift the taboo on the subject of domestic violence and promote open debate on human rights and gender equality." Established by the GOJ in 2000, the hybrid government/nongovernmental management team developed and implemented the project,s "holistic, inclusive and preventative approach" to combating the causes of domestic abuse. The project has led to procedural and institutional changes that have addressed both the victims and perpetrators of domestic violence in Jordan. ¶2. (SBU) Nadia Bushnaq, vice chairperson of the Management Team, sees this as an important source of recognition both within and outside the country. Calling it "a UN stamp of approval," she regards the award as a means to an end: obtaining funding from international donors for the Protection Project. While the British Department for International Development has funded the Project until now, future funding is questionable. She states that the British government applied for the King Hussein Award for the Project last year, without success, and likely sought the UN award this year. The Project provided no direct input as part of the application process, but plans on holding a local press conference after the award is presented. ¶3. (U) The December 4 English language Jordan Times devoted an extensive page two article and a highly complementary editorial to the award. The Arabic language press reported on the prize, but less in-depth and without editorializing. Post notes that domestic violence still remains taboo in Jordanian culture, though this prize will likely have a positive effect on the Project,s work in Jordan by highlighting its constructive efforts to deal with the issue, not just publicize it. HALE