Women activists cry foul as quota removed from decentralisation bill

AMMAN — Women’s rights activists on Monday expressed their shock and dismay over the Lower House's decision on Sunday to reverse a move granting women a 15 per cent quota in governorate councils under the decentralisation bill.

On Sunday, the Lower House passed the draft decentralisation law, granting eligible voters two votes each as they elect the governorate council, which represents a local legislature. 

The MPs went back on an amendment they previously made to cancel appointments in governorate councils, endorsing instead the government's version under which 25 per cent of the councils will be appointed.

The House also cancelled from the reform-oriented bill a 15 per cent womenOs quota, which was previously proposed by Jerash 1st District MP Wafaa Bani Mustafa and endorsed by a majority of MPs.

"I am deeply disappointed and frustrated at yesterday's decision and that is a step backwards for the women's movement in Jordan," Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) Salma Nims told The Jordan Times.

Activists have described the MPs’ step last week to grant women a 15 per cent quota as "a big victory for women because this is the first time that a quota is being approved from within the Lower House itself, since the government did not include any quota in the bill despite demands from the womenss movements.

But on Sunday, the MPs went over the draft bill again and decided to cancel the quota without any resistance under the Dome.

"It is unacceptable to have a 25 per cent quota for women in municipalities and 15 allocated seats in the Lower House and not have a quota in governorate councils," Nims told The Jordan Times.
"I see no democracy  in appointing 25 per cent of the council members rather than have all of them elected by the people."

Deputy Bani Mustafa expressed her outrage over the decision.

“I am going to contest this decision because it was not made in accordance with the Lower House’s by-laws,” Bani Mustafa told The Jordan Times.

Nims announced during a press conference at the JNCW on Monday that the latest move by the House “harms the democratic process in Jordan”.

Executive director of the Taqaddam Platform — a citizen-driven group advocating positive social, political and economic change — Sahar Aloul, stressed that fair representation means allocating 50 per cent of any publicly elected body to women in compliance with international agreements Jordan has ratified and has been signatory to.

“This is a heavy blow to the efforts of women’s rights groups,” she said, adding that these advocates pinned hopes on women’s representation in governorate councils under the decentralisation bill. 

“This is also a blow to our progress as a nation in general; without equal and fair representation of half of society, all attempts aimed at achieving development in any field will remain deficient,” Aloul said.

Also Sunday, Sisterhood is Global Institute (SIGI/Jordan) echoed the same stand on the deputies’ decision, saying: “This shows that women are always the weaker link in Jordan.”

“Women should be granted a minimum of 30 per cent in all public spheres so that they can be effective and worthwhile,” SIGI/Jordan said in a statement.

Nims said the next step is to lobby the Senate to support women’s demands and “if this does not work, we will take our demands to a higher level.”

The JNCW held several meetings with civil society and deputies to raise awareness about the draft decentralisation law and called on the government to include a minimum 30 per cent quota for women.  

The commission also sent a list of demands related to the bill to Parliament. 

The government had said the draft decentralisation law was extensively discussed with citizens, and reiterated the bill s simmensei contribution to the democratisation process.

Officials say the draft law translates the Royal vision on local governance into practical steps as the plan is aimed at engaging people in policy and decision making related to their areas as well as achieving sustainable and comprehensive development of all local communities.