ARAB WOMEN JOURNALISTS IN UK

MEDIA WATCH MEMBERS' NETWORK

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
 

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

Subject/ case	Country/ State/ Date	Reported In English / Arabic	Hyper link
An Egyptian girl tells the details of torture and the "virginity" test by the military.	Egypt During Uprising - 2011	English - on line News releases on  Journomania	Click here
Israel arrests two more Palestinian journalists	Palestine - Nov 18 - 2011	English - on line News releases on  Journomania	Click here
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
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

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

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

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

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.”

Arab women in media day 2011

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

Arab women in media day 2010

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

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.

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.

Arab women in media day [Arabic]

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