Dangerous myths

There are some people who associate the Arab world with misery and conflict; they tell me to be careful when I travel to the region from the UK. Even to Jordan.

It does make me chuckle: When I’m in Amman sharing a cup of tea with a taxi driver who wants to practise his English — and won’t let me pay for the ride. Or when teenagers ask me if they can help me with directions in the street before I get the chance to tell them I’m lost. I’m effectively being warned about one of the friendliest places on earth!

There are people in the West who know nothing about the famous Jordanian welcome and resort to the nearest available stereotype: that of the “violent Arab world”.

I urge them to come and see for themselves, of course. But where there is an information gap, people will fill it with something, however inaccurate the information might be. Even though we are connected by social media, myths persist.

I was reminded of this on a Facebook discussion with a former colleague; there had been a particularly horrific rape in Kenya which had been filmed by one of the perpetrators. Somebody pointed out that the woman seemed to offer no resistance, and therefore she consented to the attack. Perhaps she had invited the attentions of the perpetrator?

On the surface, it would seem a common sense assumption. And yet people who work with gender-based violence (GBV) survivors know that “freezing” is a common response to such trauma, and that this response has nothing to do with consent.

Such a dangerous myth: If people don’t believe that women are being attacked, then the perpetrators of these crimes can continue with impunity. And there will be no support for survivors.

Another myth is that GBV only affects a particular culture or type of person. It is sadly a worldwide phenomenon, affecting all countries; and people who carry out such attacks do not fit in with “perceived offender” profiles. They come from all walks of life, and aren’t just “dangerous outsiders” as they are sometimes portrayed.

That GBV is rarely talked about openly means that such myths often go unchallenged. The global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign, which came to a close on December 10, seeks to highlight the nature and prevalence of violence against women, and remind the world that this is a human rights issue. The ultimate aim is to increase women’s safety. This means encouraging zero tolerance of violent attacks on women: all women, from whichever country of origin.

There are several Jordanian organisations involved which are doing great work in this field, such as the Jordanian Women’s Union and the King Hussein Foundation.

Of course the Syrian refugee crisis is a strain on the region’s resources, and Jordan’s remarkable humanitarian effort in hosting so many affected by conflict is admired worldwide; but this reputation is threatened by acts of gender-based violence, of which early marriage is perhaps the most high profile example. Street harassment is also rife in some places, as is domestic violence, but attacks often go unreported. Recent research by the Due Diligence Project has shown that Syrian refugees are reluctant to register complaints about GBV for fear of losing their home and financial support, as well as deportation, amongst other reasons.

Those who carry out such attacks damage Jordan’s reputation for kindness to visitors, and those who ignore GBV acts, contribute to a culture of impunity where perpetrators know they will go unpunished.

The famous welcome must extend to all visitors, and during these challenging times whilst we wait for peace to return to Syria; those who are fleeing violence in their homeland should not have to suffer it in places where they have sought refuge.

The writer, director of training at the Media Training Station CIC, is currently managing the khatwah.org programme, which campaigns to combat gender violence affecting the Syrian refugee population. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times.