16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign kicks off in Jordan

JORDAN, Tuesday 24^th November 2015 – On the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November), the Jordanian National Commission of Women (JNCW), the UN Country Team in Jordan, the USAID Takamol - Gender Program, and the Netherlands Embassy in Amman held a joint press conference to launch the 2015 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign in Jordan. The inter-agency Sexual and Gender-Based Violence sub-working group will also engage the refugee and host communities in the campaign, with a special focus on engaging men and boys in ending violence against women and girls.

The Campaign uniquely – and for the first time in Jordan - brings together the three main contributors to efforts to achieve female empowerment and gender equity: JNCW, the primary national organization entrusted with overseeing Gender policy in the country and liaising between civil society and government; USAID Takamol Gender Program, the flagship USAID- funded Program tasked with working with the government, civil society and donors on gender equity and female empowerment in Jordan; and the United Nations in Jordan, representing the global champions of the 16 Days Campaign.

More than 100 entities among Governmental institutions, international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, activists within the SHAM’A Network, UN agencies, and the donor community have also joined forces to step up efforts to end violence against women and girls.

Also for the first time - since the campaign started to be marked in Jordan - advocacy messages based on real-life stories will be delivered in an unprecedented street campaign highlighting the different forms of gender-based violence (GBV). This knowledge creating campaign is also reinforced with messages by prominent Jordanian figures - such as Al-Faisali Defender Mohammad Khamees and the Cartoonist Omar Al-Abdullat. The campaign, mirrored online through a dedicated Facebook page carrying the full stories, will include a media campaign targeting all governorates of the Kingdom, utilizing street banners, TV, radio, and video messages shedding light on the various forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

“Our challenge lies not only in the need for stronger legislative framework and the expansion of quality protection services; but also in the fact that many practices that constitute Gender-Based Violence continue to be seen as normal social practices, reinforced by traditionally influenced interpretations of the religious text. Moreover, without the economic empowerment of women, they are largely unable to break away from the circle of violence they are confined to.” affirmed Dr. Salma Nims, Secretary General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women.

“Whenever we work on changing mindsets around a particular social context, it becomes important to recognize that creating knowledge is necessarily the most important ingredient of that effort,” said Nermeen Murad, USAID Takamol Gender Program Chief of Party. “Equally important is to unify efforts around a single message. We agreed this year that we need to inform Jordanians that GBV is not only the act of physical violence but transcends into economic, social, psychological, and other forms of violence. We also agreed that Jordanians are not violent by nature...bringing these two messages were critical to this campaign” she added.

Although highly under-reported, GBV and discrimination remain an all too prevalent phenomenon in Jordan - as captured in the Beijing+20 National Report recently released by JNCW. Survivors of violence are sometimes not well aware of existing protection mechanisms and continue to be hesitant in seeking support due to social stigma and fear of retaliation. Additionally, legislative gaps leave women and girls at risk of further abuse and societal stigmatization.

‘Jordan has the potential to become a role model in the region in fostering the necessary attitudinal, practice and institutional changes to prevent and end violence against women. With its focus on supporting the most marginalized and vulnerable women and girls, the Beijing+20 Step it up Commitment presented by the Government of Jordan during the recent UN Global Gender Summit (New York, 27 September 2015) has reinforced the urgency to take concreate measures to tackle GBV in the Kingdom. The UN system in Jordan will continue to work with the JNCW, the civil society, the youth and the donor community to break the chain of silence and end GBV’ affirmed Mr. Giuseppe Belsito, UN Women Representative, on behalf of the UN Country Team in Jordan.

The 16 Days campaign represents a key moment of the year to break the chain of silence and stimulate a public debate on gender based violence. From the 25^th November to the 10^th December, dedicated awareness raising activities and related initiatives will be organized in various locations in Jordan. The campaign will begin with a joint launching event organized at the Amman Football Center (Nuqul Sports Center)-Bayader from 12 to 2pm on 25^th November. On the same day, a join opening event will also take place in the Za’tari refugee camp, with various activities organized in collaboration with humanitarian partners. A key event marking the peak of the national campaign, under the patronage of HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal, will take place on 6^th December.

‘The Netherlands is happy to support again this annual event because of its belief in just societies and that 50% of the population deserves more in terms of equal opportunities, representation, participation and absence of discrimination. Putting a halt to violence against women is an essential condition for achieving more prosperous and more peaceful civilizations. Through this year’s campaign we reach out to all Jordanians to unify this cause and to take initiative to make this event a success’ affirmed Mrs. Maartje Peters, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Amman.

About the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence Campaign

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign which takes place each year and runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day), also encompassing other important key dates. Widely known as the ‘16 Days Campaign’, it is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. It was originated by the first Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991. Since 2012, the civil society in Jordan – under the leadership of the Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Talal and the Jordanian National Commission for Women – the UN system and the donor community are joining forces to inspire social mobilization in the Kingdom and organize various events in the country to mark this campaign and advocate for the eradication of gender based violence. The general public is invited to join the social media campaign using the hashtag #16daysjo and at the Facebook page www.facebook.com/16DaysJo.

About the SHAM’A Network

On December 10, 2007, as a continuation of the 16-day Campaign to raise awareness of VAW, in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, SHAM’A was established to create a national network to combat violence against women. In recent years, SHAM’A has helped raise awareness of VAW and its far-reaching, devastating consequences—, which harm not only the victim’s personal well-being but also the safety of families and the wider community. SHAM’A is a means of unifying the efforts of a growing number of individuals and organizations working on a national level to combat violence against women.

For all media inquiries, please contact

Nora Isayan

Communications Analyst

Office of the UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator

Mobile: + 962 (79) 5392926

Email: nora.isayan@one.un.org

Ashjan Al-Ananzeh

Media coordinator /website editor

The Jordanian National Commission for Women

Mobile: +962772084260

E-mail: [ Click to reveal ]

Nermeen Obeidat

Program Director – USAID Takamol Gender Program

Mobile: + 962790101541

Email: nobeidat@takamol.org