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ARAB WOMEN JOURNALISTS IN UK
MEDIA WATCH MEMBERS'
NETWORK |
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Human Rights
Watch

Kenneth Roth
Executive Director
We wanted to make sure you didn't miss this incredible video
Last week, we highlighted some of the amazing victories against human rights
abusers made possible in 2011 thanks to Human Rights Watch supporters
As a special thanks, we’ve put together a short video especially for you, so
you can see your support in action and in the faces of those we help
protect.
Take a moment and see the difference you’ve made around the world this past
year.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Roth
Executive Director
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Our media watch are watching
Media Watch - UK Reports

Watched by MS.
Iqbal
Tamimi AWMC MW Director
E-mail:
tamimi@journomania.net
Tel +44(0)7930343026
Watch Report in Brief
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Subject/ case
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Country/ State/
Date |
Reported
In English / Arabic |
Hyper link
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An Egyptian girl tells the details of
torture and the "virginity" test by the military. |
Egypt During Uprising -
2011
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English - on line News
releases on
Journomania |
Click
here |
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Israel arrests two more Palestinian
journalists |
Palestine - Nov 18 - 2011 |
English - on line News
releases on
Journomania |
Click
here |
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Why the Muslim women in the Middle East
are doing better than their peers in UK? |
UK Oct 2011 |
English - Release by Iqbal on
Journomania |
Click
here |
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Lady Cox The Barron interviewed by Iqbal
on law project concern Moslem women in House of common |
UK - Sep 2011 |
Arabic - Released by Iqbal |
Click
here |
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The Yemeni human rights activist and the
Nobel Peace Prize

Yemeni Tawakkul Karman AWMC member
By MS.
Iqbal Tamimi
Our media watch in UK
Yemeni Tawakkul Karman, one of the
leaders of the protest movement against President Ali Abullah Saleh was
named one of three Nobel Peace Prize winners on Friday. She was hailed "for
her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to
full participation in peace-building work".
As much as this reward made all Arab women proud, it has raised many
question marks. Among which that she has shared the prize with Liberian
president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her compatriot Leymah Gbowee, who
mobilised fellow women against their country's civil war, yet they never got
the publicity that Karman has enjoyed following the announcement.
To view on line please click here |
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How has the UK media responded to Arab women
’journalists’ on state media during the uprisings?

From Left to right:Arab women journalists
Najat sharrafeddine, Iqbal Tamimi and Lara Tmash
By MS.
Iqbal Tamimi
Our media watch in UK
E-mail tamimi@journomania.net
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 08:48
Women on Arab TV can attract a lot
of attention, but this is often focused on their appearance, which
would not be the case with male presenters. These female figureheads
are often not good role models, because they are not chosen for
their journalistic skills, while there are many Arab female
journalists who are very professional but do not get the same
opportunities or recognition. This attention was noticeable during
the 2011 uprisings of the Middle East.
Calls for freedom of expression
and advancement of human rights, is still spreading like wild fire
in the Arab world. And even though Arab women’s utilization
capabilities through political and economic participation remains
the lowest in the world in quantitative terms as evidenced by their
very low share in parliaments, cabinets, and the work force, the
state run Arab media turned to women during the uprisings that took
place in early 2011, to put forward their advocacy and build
solidarity.
Interesting examples can be seen in
Libya and Syria. There have been women fighting on both sides of the
conflicts through the media, corresponding with the international
media to speak up for the majority- albeit some worked under
pseudonyms, such as a woman in Libya nicknamed Perditta, who kept
her late husband’s internet portal working after his assassination.
Her late husband Mohammed al-Nabbous, a citizen journalist who
established news stream from Libya during the uprising.
To view on line please click here
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The AWMW in UK Congratulates the Arab Women
Winners of Anna Lindh Journalist Award 2011

By MS.
Iqbal Tamimi
Our media watch in UK
E-mail tamimi@journomania.net
Six journalists received the
Mediterranean’s leading prize for reporting across cultures and two
received honorary awards. Three were Arab Women and one from UK
The names of the winners of the
Mediterranean, Anna Lindh Journalist Award for the 2011 edition were
announced at the Principality of Monaco by an International Jury
headed by
Edgar Morin. The awards that were presented by
Prince Albert II
brought together media and civil society from across the two shores
of the Mediterranean region.
To view on line please click here
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AWMW in UK Call for Release of Palestinian Journalists Held
in Israel
By MS.
Iqbal Tamimi
Our media watch in UK
Arab Women Media Watch Centre in UK joined the
call of The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today and their
affiliate in Palestine, the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate (PJS), and Al
Jazeera for the immediate release of Palestinian journalist Samer Allawy who
was arrested by the Israeli authorities on 9 August. Samer, who is Al
Jazeera Bureau Chief in Afghanistan, was arrested on the West Bank border
with Jordan and detained at Al Jalama prison, while he was travelling on his
way back to work after spending his vacation with his family in the Nablus
city.
“The Israeli authorities have a bad record over the years of intimidating
journalists and fabricating reasons to hinder the work of media
professionals. Under the guise of “security” Israel has been taking quite
extraordinary measures and blatant hostility towards journalists resorting
to deportation, banning, arresting, intimidating, physically abusing and
even killing journalists. We call upon our colleagues, the Israeli
journalists to show solidarity and make an effort and help, by making the
Israeli authorities understand that there are shared journalism values all
over the world calling for protecting the people who are only doing their
jobs” said Iqbal Tamimi, Director of Arab Women Media Watch in UK.
“The Israeli authorities have failed to provide any reason for Samer’s
arrest and we urge them to release him to his family and colleague,” said
Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. “His detention is a violation of his
fundamental rights which must end forthwith. We fully support the PJS and Al
Jazeera’s efforts to secure his release.”
The PJS and Al Jazeera organised a joint demonstration on Wednesday outside
the prison near Ramallah where Samer is held, to demand his release almost a
month after his arrest. Protesters also asked Israeli authorities to free
Nawaf al Amer of Al Quds satellite channel, Amer abu Arfa, correspondent of
Shehab News Agency and journalist Mohamed Bacharat who are in Israeli
prisons.
The PJS President Abdelnnaser Najjar accused the Israeli military of holding
Samer in an attempt to obtain information about his work in Afghanistan for
the Qatari based television network.
The Federation says that the continued intimidation of Palestinian
journalists by Israeli forces through arbitrary arrests and detention
undermines the efforts to create an environment of tolerance and dialogue
between the two communities.
“This crackdown on Palestinian journalists is unfortunate because it denies
people across the divide access to impartial and responsible information,”
added Beth Costa, IFJ General Secretary. “The PJS tireless efforts to
promote professional journalism in Palestine should be supported by
responsible politicians, instead of being sabotaged on the basis of
prejudice and repression.” |
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Arab women in media day
2011 |
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HRH Princes Reem MRS Al emam Mahasen in mid
of awardees
The Arab Women Media Centre (AWMC) on Sunday Mar 13th 2011 held a
ceremony, marking the Arab Media Women Day, observed annually on March 13.
HRH Princess Rym Ali, who attended the ceremony, congratulated Arab and
Jordanian media women personnel on the occasion, expressing her pride in
their achievements. Highlighting the important role of women, she said Arab
women should exert more efforts to boost their status in society.

AWMC President Mahasen
Imam commended the continued efforts of HRH Princess Basma, who is the
honorary chairperson of the AMWC that was established in 1999 under her
directives, to empower Arab women journalists.
To view JT please click
here
To view in Arabic please
click here
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Arab women in media day
2010 |
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By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - HRH Princess Basma on Wednesday
highlighted the need for gender equality in the decision-making process to
aid the Kingdom’s development.
Speaking at a ceremony organised by the Arab Women Media Centre (AWMC)
yesterday to mark Arab Media Women’s Day, the Princess said sustainable
development cannot be achieved without equal participation of both genders.
“The media plays an important role in explaining this perspective and
encouraging a joint responsibility for men and women,” she noted.
The Princess, who is the honorary
president of the AWMC, stressed that partnership between men and women at
all levels will help empower women and strengthen their role as citizens and
partners in progress.
During the event, 11 activists, including three women, were honoured for
their efforts in defending and advocating women’s rights. They included
columnists, former news anchors, businesswomen, and academicians.
Rula Qawwas, a university lecturer who was among the honourees, said her
progress was an endless journey of giving, determination and challenge.
“I dedicate this honour to the courageous ones who have a dream and work
towards making it become a reality,” she said.
AWMC Director Mahasen Emam said as part
of the centre’s goal of defending women’s rights, it is conducting
specialised training courses and conferences aimed at developing the media
sector.
“Over the past three months, the centre has
organised several local and regional training courses for media personnel of
both genders. These courses focused on the role of future generations in
creating a better understanding of women in community development,” she
said.
At yesterday’s ceremony, Minister of State for
Media Affairs and Communication Nabil Sharif said the government
is keen to empower women so that they can assume their rightful place as
community leaders.
“Women in the Kingdom have come far in terms of assuming the highest
positions in the public sector, such as becoming ministers, parliamentarians
and judges among others. They have proved their ability in every position
they assume,” Sharif said, noting that the Kingdom’s Constitution enshrines
gender equality in terms of rights, duties and responsibilities.
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
Suhair Al-Ali also attended yesterday’s event in addition to
women activists in the media sector.
The AWMC, which was established in 1999 upon the directives of Princess
Basma to empower female Arab journalists, serves as a reference point for
many journalists across the region.
To view JT please click
here
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The Arab woman journalist day
By; Dema
Atiatt

According to the
recommendation in the first Arab women journalists conference in 2001,that
the center had released the initiative for honoring the Arab woman
journalist , because the Arab woman journalist had ruled and participated on
the development & consolation of the woman journalist's march .
The center had pinpointed on 12/march in every year " a day
for Arab woman journalist", believing in the women journalists' abilities &
promotion it.
The Arab women media center had aimed with this honor to
support the journalist 's march on the Arabic & national standards through
the contract of the media conferences ,seminars . Also, the training courses
which have the role to reach the women journalists for the decision maker
situation with special effectiveness .In specific , among the fast changes
that the world show it.
On the other hand, the center had honored probably
70 Arabic & Jordanian women journalists through the last years .
To view on line please click here
But, now the Arabic & Jordanian woman journalist has more qualifications,
persistence and challenges for many circumstances than the others .Although
the lack of ensuring the chances .
As, the social and material supports. The big evidence of that is the
martyrs who sacrifice with theirselves in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon .So,
all of us should give the support for these women whatever they are now …
Pleasant for each Arab women journalists and about for what do they achieve
…more rights & implementation "the strategic of journalist"
"The special Jordanian women in 2009"
1.Dr .Rula Kawas.
2.Mrs.Tagreed Al- Nafeesy .
3.Dr.Esmat Houso.
"The journalists who are supporting women
issues"
1.Mr. Ramadan Al- Rawashdeh .
2.Mr.Basam Sakeejha .
3.Mr . Abed Al- Salam Al –Tarawneh .
4.Mr.Abed Allah Abu Roman .
5.Mr.Jalal Al-Refaee' .
6.Mr.Youssef Gaeshan.
7.Mr. Omar Koulab.
8.Mr. Mahmood Abo Aubaid. |
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Jordanian NGOs Oral Statement
Presented to the CEDAW Committee
39th Session – 30th of July 2007- NYC
Jordanian NGOs are:
Arab women media center [AWMC]
Karameh
Arab women association.
Arab Organization for Human rights
FWD by MS. Advocate Nour Al emam

AWMC Legal advisor
As of 25 July this year,
Jordan's government published CEDAW in the National Gazette, more than
15 years since the ratification. Although this is considered to be a
step forward binding the State of Jordan to the CEDAW provisions still
the government has to take further measures to put CEDAW provisions into
practice as national law.
On behalf of the four NGOs who issued the shadow report and the 7 NGOs
who endorsed it, we address the Committee to urge our Government to
consider the following issues:
First, lifting the reservations:
A. Jordan has reserved the right to restrict women from passing their
nationalities to their children and husbands and at the same time
granting men the ability to pass their nationality to their children and
wives which is a clear discrimination between citizens. We recommend
that the government should ensure equality between men and women in the
nationality law.
B. Ensure the full right of women to choose her place of residence.
Jordan government has maintained a restriction on this right by ruling
that a woman is attached to her husband. The Jordanian government should
ensure equality in freedom of movement and residence for men and women,
and lift its reservation on this article.
Second, in terms of adopting a National Strategy to end violence, the
government has to:
1-Enact new laws in the Penal Code to criminalize VAW and punish
perpetrators.
2- Issue new policies and measures to ensure non-discrimination against
women at all levels
3-women whose lives have been threatened by family members should not be
held in jail as a form of protection. Instead, they should be secured a
place at the national shelter. The Government also has to support and
open more than one shelter for abused women to ensure access for women
outside of the capital. Further, open the national shelter to receive
clients from NGOs working with abused women, so they may benefit from
its services.
4- A major effort by NGOs failed to repeal and only succeeded in
amending Paragraph 1 of Article 340 of the Jordanian Penal Code, which
reduces the sentence of a man who kills or injures his wife or one of
his female kin whom he has just caught committing adultery. Article 98
of the Penal Code allows for a reduction in the sentences when a person
kills in a "fit of fury”. Under the existing law perpetrators found
guilty of committing such killings can receive light sentences in
prison. Moreover, courts may further reduce the sentence if the victim's
family waives its right to file a complaint about the crime. The law
should not support any such excuse, justification, or impunity for
violence against women.
Third, new legislation should be enacted to prohibit gender-based
discrimination in all levels of employment and benefits, and to
establish enforcement mechanisms to file complaints concerning
discrimination and sexual assault against women in the workplace. Many
women work in sectors not regulated by labour law and therefore cannot
enjoy the protection or benefits afforded by the law. Article 3 of the
Labour Law states that it doesn’t apply to; domestic workers; gardeners;
cooks and those in the same capacity; and family members of the owner of
a business who work with him without receiving pay. This leaves women
workers vulnerable to multiple forms of exploitation without legal
protection or recourse.
Fourth, Article 6 paragraph 1of the Constitution indicates that all
Jordanians are equal before the law and there is no discrimination
between them. We recommend that the Constitution should indicate
equality according to “sex” alongside with “language”, “religion” and
“race”.
Fifth, Government should amend the Jordanian Personal Status Law to
remove articles that do not ensure women’s equal rights with men within
marriage. For example, (1) the legal minimum age for marriage was
amended from 15 to 18 for both boys and girls; however, a judge can
conduct a marriage for a girl under 18 if it is in “her interest”. This
exception should be eliminated.
(2) Guardianship over women under 40 restricts women from enjoying their
full rights in terms of marriage and travel,
(3) Divorce laws and procedures place a big burden on women to prove
their case and derive any benefit from the law, while men can divorce
women directly and without any restrictions. The Khulu law which was
issued in 2001 gives women the ability to get divorced by returning
their dowry. This law is still temporary because the parliament refused
to pass it. We need a permanent law.
Sixth, the Government has yet to ensure equality in political
participation. A few women are represented in the decision-making level.
A quota of six women out of 110 was endorsed in the previous election of
the parliament. However, the government has to undertake new policies
and measures to ensure better participation of women in political and
public life. A quota of at least 30 % should be adopted at all decision
making levels.
Seventh, there is no education and training taking place by the
government to affect social values taught to children. There should not
be any permission for text books to promote discrimination or
stereotypical roles for women and girls: whether by confining women's
roles to family settings and traditional occupations, or by reinforcing
discriminatory social practices. Rather, the government should change
the text books accordingly to promote equal rights and equal status
among women and men, boys and girls, in the text books and in the
schools.
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SOCIAL ATTITUDES,
UNSTABLE POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN REGION, SLOW LEGAL REFORM
HAMPER WOMEN IN JORDAN, BUT SOME SUCCESSES
RECORDED, WOMEN’S COMMITTEE TOLD
Acknowledging that deeply rooted social attitudes, slow legal reform and
unstable political conditions in the region had hampered women’s progress
and impeded implementation of international norms, Jordan’s delegation today
stressed to the Women’s Committee that the country had nevertheless
registered success in challenging stereotypes and increasing women’s
participation in public life.
Details please go
here
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Arab women in media day [Arabic]
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