'Eye on Women' Launch
Increasing women participation in political life
On 6th March 2019, the “Eye on Women” project was launched at the Royal Cultural Centre in Amman. The project, which is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and aims at increasing Jordanian women participation in political life, will be implemented by Solidarity Is Global Institute (SIGI) between 2019 and 2021 within the framework of the EU-JDID programme.
The launch event was chaired by the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Ms. Mary Kawar; the Ambassador of the EU to Jordan, H.E. Mr. Andrea Matteo Fontana; the Ambassador of Spain to Jordan, H.E. Ms. Aránzazu Bañón Dávalos; the President of SIGI, Ms. Enaam Al Asha; and SIGI Director, Ms. Asma Khader. Closing remarks were delivered by Ms. Roshka Khalid, member of the Al Aghwar Alwosta Municipality Council at Al Balqaa Governorate.
“Eye on Women” works towards achieving Jordan's pledges to accomplish the 50/50 gender equality commitment by 2030, as well as making sure it is in alignment with the development of other key reforms, such as electoral reform, the functioning of political parties and the decentralization law.
More specifically, the project aims to contribute to the improvement of the political environment that supports effective participation of women in political life through an increase in the number of women involved in electoral processes and in leading positions, more CBOs working and advocating to promote women's role in political life or more youth performing gender auditing. Towards these goals the action will establish an observatory platform "A’in: Eye on Women", with around 50 members among CSOs, CBOs, activists, etc., for pre, during and post elections monitoring from a gender perspective of legislations, candidates, electoral programmes, implementation of programmes, post elections follow up of women in elected councils, leadership posts and decision making posts to serve as a channel of information and as an advocacy tool.
Furthermore, the project will provide awareness raising and capacity building for qualified and capable women leaders who want to participate in any elections, and elected women, in their current or expected roles. All these goals will be reinforced by promoting gender auditing to ensure that public performance of the state authorities takes into consideration gender, in the management of public affairs.
Over 1.100 direct beneficiaries from all over Jordan will be targeted by the project among grassroots organizations and women voters, youth of both genders, women community leaders, women activists, MPs, Senators, governors, council members, municipal members, governmental, nongovernmental leaders and media personnel.
EU-JDID aims at supporting Jordan's reform process towards a consolidation of democracy and promoting inclusiveness of national policy and decision-making processes. Additionally, it intends to enhance women and youth inclusion and to foster a stronger democratic and tolerant political culture. EU-JDID is composed of four different but interconnected components (Parliamentary Support, Electoral Assistance, Support to the Political Party System and support to civil society organizations). “Eye on Women” is framed within the fourth component of EU-JDID (Support to the Civil Society Organisations) and is implemented by the Spanish Cooperation Agency, AECID.
According to the Global Gender GAP Report 2018, Jordan ranks 129 out of 149 countries in terms of women political empowerment, with figures showing 15.4% of women in Parliament and 7.1% in ministerial positions. SIGI advocates for the respect of women’s rights to encourage their presence and participation in public life, social development and policy reform among other goals.