Projects

Women’s participation in national and local politics

Jordan has seen important achievements regarding women’s rights over the last decade and the national as well as municipal elections in 2007 increased the focus on women’s political participation. A quota of 20% for women was introduced before the Jordanian municipal elections in 2007, which raised new debates. In the summer of 2011 an amendment of the municipalities law raised the quota to 25 %. Although more women participate in politics since the quotas have been introduced a great need remains for supporting and encouraging in order to ensure that women not only participate but also contribute substantially to political processes.

Support of women candidates

A parliamentary election took place on November 9th, 2010. At that occasion, women took 13 out of 120 seats of the Parliament's lower house, 12 out of whom via a women's quota established in May 2010. Before then the quota for the parliament comprised only 6 women. However, King Abdullah dissolved the newly elected parliament by late January 2011 and replaced its cabinet. The cabinet is at present appointed by the king - a procedure that is, due to King Abdullah's pledge - now to be abolished. In the new government were appointed to women ministers. The Senate of 60 members in total now hold 9 women, and in the Parliament still 13 seats out of 120 are occupied by women. The project supports women candidates and activities to raise the voter turnout as well as and activities promoting amendments to the current electoral laws. Among the activities are training of women candidates and national meetings aimed at mobilizing support to women candidates. The project in general supports activities related to all types of elections taking place within the project period.

A fund to support minor organizations

As part of the project Women's Political Participation in Jordan the Women's Political Participation Fund supports minor organizations and initiatives in areas outside Amman in their work to strengthen women's political participation. The fund aims at augmenting the knowledge level for potential candidates as well as voters and citizens on the whole about the importance of gender-balanced political participation. The fund also supports training and edication of the actual players at the local or national political arena.

Danish-Jordanian joint partnership

On the Danish side KVINFO has already accumulated solid knowledge and experience relevant for this project through previous cooperation with several of the Jordanian partners. The Danish Women’s Council is responsible for the involvement of Danish women politicians and contributes with their experiences from former cooperation on political participation. The Jordanian partners, the Jordanian National Commission for Women, Jordanian Women’s Union and ZENID are all very experienced in their fields and are responsible for carrying out the project's activities in Jordan.

For more info about this project

Please contact:

Fenja Fasting 

Programme Adviser
E-mail: fenja.fasting@kvinfo.dk

Tlf: 50 76 33 77