Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN10217
2004-12-28 14:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENT FOCUSES ON GENDER VIOLENCE

Tags:  PHUM KDEM KMPI KWMN JO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS AMMAN 010217 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM KMPI KWMN JO
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENT FOCUSES ON GENDER VIOLENCE

-------
Summary
-------

UNCLAS AMMAN 010217

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM KMPI KWMN JO
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENT FOCUSES ON GENDER VIOLENCE

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. Post sponsored a Human Rights Day event on December 13.
The program featured a panel discussion of four prominent
women activists who discussed gender violence in Jordan,
including honor crimes. The audience of approximately 45
included activists, NGOs, GOJ officials, local press, and
members of the Embassy community. Charge delivered opening
remarks. End summary.

--------------
Combating Gender Violence
--------------


2. Post marked Human Rights Day with a program on December 13
focusing on gender violence. The event, held under the
auspices of post's chapter of the Federal Women's Program,
included a panel discussion with four activists who discussed
the challenges of dealing with this highly sensitive topic in
a conservative Muslim society, as well as several programs
underway in Jordan to prevent gender violence. Guests
included Dalia Farouki of the National Center for Human
Rights (NCHR),Dr. Amal Sabbagh of the Jordanian National
Commission for Women, Rana Husseini, activist and Jordan
Times journalist, and Frances Abouzeid, director of the
MEPI-funded Freedom House family violence program based in
Jordan.


3. The program coincided with a nationwide program organized
by Freedom House and local NGOs to mark the global campaign
of 16 Days of Activism Against Family Violence. During the
discussion, Abouzeid highlighted some of the activities
conducted in Jordan during the campaign designed to increase
awareness about the problem, including the release of a
public service television commercial that Freedom House has
funded with MEPI support. The commercial poignantly
demonstrated how young children are adversely affected by
family violence. Abouzeid mentioned another successful
Freedom House program conducted during the campaign, a series
of interactive plays about family violence held at
universities throughout Jordan. The plays spark candid
discussion from audience members about gender violence and
common attitudes toward women.


4. Dalia Farouki from the National Center for Human Rights
discussed their MEPI funded program of interactive workshops
at universities to raise awareness and change attitudes about
gender violence. She involved the audience during her
presentation by taking a quick poll of audience members'
attitudes toward gender and violence. Dr. Amal Sabbagh of the
Jordanian National Commission for Women and Rana Husseini, a
journalist, discussed their work to stop so-called "honor
crimes" through legal counseling, legislative reform, and
cultural change. They also detailed their efforts earlier
this year to discredit a popular book that provided a grossly
inaccurate account of honor crimes in Jordan.


5. Sabbagh commented that the most important link in
combating gender violence in Jordan -- and the greatest
challenge -- was to cultivate a change in culture at the
grassroots level so that violence would no longer be
tolerated as an option in family disputes. She emphasized
that reaching out to all segments of society is essential in
combating family violence, including the religious
establishment. Farouki noted that the NCHR has provided
training about dealing with family violence to Ministry of
Awqaf and Religious Affairs counselors, who often deal with
cases of family violence.

HALE