AMMAN — Jordan civil society and women’s rights
activists often find themselves targeted with a narrative that demonizes them
and labels them as agents of “foreign interference”, analysts said.
اضافة اعلان
Among the issues that women’s rights activists are
facing is the “demonization narrative”, which is propagated and circulated to
echo a conviction that women’s rights activists are carrying a “malign agenda”.
“Jordanian Women have been fighting for their rights for
decades, way before NGOs got involved. Some think that they can obstruct reform
by demonizing calls for women’s rights; this is just absurd”, said Qais
Zyadeen, a former MP.
Despite the fact that Jordan has moved up seven ranks on
the gender gap index, according to a report by the World Economic Reform, the
road towards complete equality remains bumpy, activists agreed.
Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Commission
for Women, Salma Nims, highlighted the misconception of human rights conventions.
“Those who believe that these conventions are binding do
not know what they are talking about. I think demonizing women’s rights
activism stems from a patriarchal approach towards equality. Of course,
equality also means that some will lose benefits”, Nims added.
“Not just in Jordan, but in many countries, some will
start to broadcast messages and narratives insinuating that such convictions
and calls for equality would lead to the decay of society and its values.”,
Nims concluded.
Activists anticipate a counter-narrative “every time we
try to rally for something”. Some believe that changes leading to equality
would threaten their interests and a comfortable status quo.
“No matter what it is, when it comes to women’s rights,
everyone gets scared. There is a segment of people in the country who are
benefiting from the current women’s rights situation and they would do whatever
they can to keep it that way”, said Deema Al-Kharabsheh, an activist.
Lawmaker and head of the Islamist Islah bloc, Saleh
Armouti, is a fierce opponent of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination (CEDAW).
“CEDAW contradicts the constitution in the sense that
the religion of the nation is Islam and the articles in the conviction clash
with the teachings of our faith. CEDAW interferes in issues such as
inheritance, and polygamy”, Armouti told Jordan News over the phone.
“CEDAW aims to destroy social cohesion and family values
and thus it projects a great threat to the security of our community,” Armouti,
a veteran jurist, said.
A human rights activist who preferred to remain
anonymous criticized the narrative adopted by women’s rights activists
considering it to be “very confrontational, unconvincing, and shallow.”
“In many cases, the cause represents basic human values
but the narrative adopted is repulsive and destructive.”
Commissioner General at the National Center for Human
Rights (NCHR) Alaa Armouti stated that “while the center does not analyze
narratives and does not take part in the controversy.”
However, the human rights commissioner told Jordan News
that the rhetoric against international human rights standards is baseless,
adding that “Jordan has ratified conventions and is adopting noble human
values.”
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