Protesting 'massacres' of Palestinian women, JNCW says to cancel awareness events against gender-based violence

AMMAN — The Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) on Sunday said it will cancel previously planned events under the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

“JNCW recalls the war on Gaza and the escalating violence and massacres committed against the people of Gaza with the majority of martyrs, women and children representing more than 70 per cent,” JNCW Secretary General Maha Ali said.

That is why, Ali told The Jordan Times, “The JNCW decided to cancel this year's events for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign”.

However, Ali maintained, the JNCW will continue its role along with its partners from the civil society organisations “in promoting the importance of combating violence against women and girls, particularly in times of war, including the war on Gaza, during this year’s international campaign”.

Ali stressed the importance of combating violence against women and girls in all its forms and types; and addressing its root causes, consequences and impact on families and the whole society. 

This has been among the priorities of JNCW, chaired by HRH Princess Basma, over the years by advocating for policies to combat gender-based violence and conducting awareness campaigns on the issue, according to Ali.

“In times of wars and armed conflicts, violence against women increases since they are the most vulnerable,” Ali, a former minister, stressed.

Guided by the relentless efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah to stop the war on Gaza allow the passage of humanitarian aid, Ali added, "The JNCW, in cooperation with the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women Empowerment and the National Human Rights Centre, held an event on 9 November 2023 in support of women in Gaza. 

The event brought together Jordanian women representing government, parliament, civil society organisations and women leaders from across the Kingdom, she said. 

Ali said that participants wrote a letter of solidarity with the women of Palestine, addressed to the UN secretary general, the high commissioner for human rights, the UN rapporteur for human rights in Palestine, the Arab League assistant secretary general, and the UN Women executive director.

The solidarity letter called on the international community and human rights organisations to take immediate action to stop the war on Gaza and end the humanitarian disaster there, she said.

International activists chose the dates November 25 — the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,  and December 10 — International Human Rights Day — to symbolically link violence against women and human rights, emphasising that such violence is a violation of human rights.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates, including International Women Human Rights Defenders Day on November 29, World AIDS Day on December 1 and the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre on December 6.