Rights of women, people with disabilities at heart of 3-year nationwide project

AMMAN — A three-year project titled “You have a right, a choice…claim it!”, aiming to elevate the response to gender-based violence in the Kingdom with a specific focus on women with disabilities, was launched on Thursday.

In the presence of HH Prince Mired Bin Raad, President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the King Hussein Foundation signed on the nationwide project.

In addition to enhancing the awareness and response to gender-based violence, the project also aims to educate women on their rights within marriage contracts.

The Dutch Ambassador to Jordan Barbara Joziasse said at the launch: “The promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment lies at the heart of this project and is closely aligned with the priorities of the Embassy of The Netherlands in Jordan.”

Upgrading and improving access to gender-based violence preventive and protection services will “ensure a more comprehensive response to tackling the issue”, she added.

The project was described as “holistic in its approach”, pushing to improve the institutional capacities of community-based organisations to better identify, document, assess and handle reported cases of gender-based violence.

President of the I am a Human Society for Rights of People with Disabilities Asia Yaghi said that in addition to providing legal and psychosocial support, the project will also upgrade local gender-based violence centres to become “more friendly and physically accessible” for men and women with disabilities who are “more prone to experiencing economic and social discrimination”.

Another aspect of the project is shedding light on women’s rights within marriage contracts, launching advocacy campaigns that target both men and women.

Executive Director of the King Hussein Foundation Hana Shahin said that “the timing of the launch of this project contributes to the current national movement towards enhancing gender equality and protection. We want women to be aware that they have legal rights and they are entitled to claim them”.