‘Eye on Women’ launches political participation project

AMMAN — The “Eye on Women” project, which aims to support women’s political participation, will launch today at the Royal Cultural Centre in Amman.

The project will run from 2019 to 2021 and be implemented by the Solidarity Is Global Institute (SIGI). According to a joint statement sent to The Jordan Times, the project will work towards supporting women’s political participation by increasing the number of women involved in the electoral process, while advocating for women’s role in politics.

Through the programme, an observatory platform consisting of around 50 members will be formed to monitor elections, to take a gender-based look at legislation, candidates and electoral programmes, as well as follow up with women in elected councils and leadership posts.

Furthermore, the project will provide awareness raising and capacity building for qualified women who want to participate in any elections, and elected women, in their current or expected roles. Over 1,100 beneficiaries throughout Jordan will be targeted by the project, according to the statement. 

According to the Global Gender GAP Report 2018, Jordan ranks 129 out of 149 countries in terms of women’s political empowerment, with figures showing women make up 15.4 per cent of Parliament and 7.1 per cent of ministerial positions, the statement said. 

“Eye on Women” will work towards achieving Jordan’s pledges to accomplish the 50/50 gender equality commitment by 2030, as well as making sure accomplishments align with the development of other reforms, such as electoral reform, the functioning of political parties and the Decentralisation Law. 

The launch event is being chaired by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mary Kawar, the Ambassador of the EU to Jordan Andrea Matteo Fontana, the Ambassador of Spain to Jordan Aránzazu Dávalos, the President of SIGI Enaam Al Asha and SIGI Director Asma Khader.

The project is being co-funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation and the EU under the framework of the Jordanian Democratic Institutions Development programme, the statement added.