MEPI WOMEN AND THE LAW WORKSHOP

UNCLAS AMMAN 000181 SIPDIS NEA/PI (RKAPLAN, AROMANOWSKI); NEA/ARN (ASCHEDLBAUER, SWILLIAMS); NEA/PPD (DBENZE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KMPI KDEM KJUS PHUM KPAO SCUL JO SUBJECT: MEPI WOMEN AND THE LAW WORKSHOP Ref: STATE 335722 ¶1. With reference to the MEPI "Women and Law" conference to be held in Amman on February 16-18, 2004: Post understands that the following Jordanians will be asked to take part in the Conference program: Dr. Rateb Thaher - Panel: The Role of the Legal Framework Dr. Hamdi Murad - Panel: The Role of the Legal Framework Judge Malak Ghazal - Panel: Women Judges, Prosecutors, and Defense Attorneys in the Arab World and Beyond. Judge Ihsan Barakat - Small group discussions Judge Taghreed Hikmat - Small group discussions Ms. Reem Abu Hassan, Attorney - Moderator H.E. Asma Khader, Spokesperson, Government of Jordan - Panel: Treatment of Equality in Law and Practice Ms. Samira Zaitoun, Attorney - Jordanian Bar Association - Panel: The Role of the Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers in Protecting Equality. Representative Jordanian Women's Union (TBD)- Small group discussions Arab Women's Media Center representative (TBD)- Small group discussions ¶2. Post recommends invitations be forwarded to the following participants in priority order: --Mr. Asem Miqdad, Lawyer and human rights activists. Mr. Miqdad is an active member of the National Center for Human Rights. --Ms. Rihab Qadomi, Lawyer and Member of the National Commission for Women. Ms. Qadomi worked on amendments to the legislation concerning women's legal rights particularly, introducing the women quota system to the parliament. --Dr. Abla Amawi, Senior Program Officer, Gender and Poverty, UNDP. Dr. Amawi wrote two books on "Jordanian Women's Participation in the Political Process." --Ms. Eva Abu Halaweh, Lawyer, Mizan Center for Human Rights. --Dr. Ahmad Ziadat, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jordan. --Ms. Buthayna Fraihat, Lawyer, the National Center for Human Rights. She handles all cases regarding women's legal rights and conducts training seminars. --H.E. Mr. Ghaleb Al-Zu'bi, Lawyer, Head of the legal committee, Jordan Parliament. --Ms. Rana Husseini, Journalists, Jordan Times. She covers criminal cases particularly, Crimes of honor. --Ms. Zahra Al-Sharabati, Lawyer. --Ms. Dana Malhas, Lawyer, has joined recently a training program in the USA on Mediation. ¶2. We realize that it may not be possible to issue official invitations to all of the above, but hope the additional names would be allowed to attend as observers where appropriate. ¶3. In addition, we expect the Government of Jordan, as co- host, will want invitations for an official delegation, but these have yet to be identified. Gnehm