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        • Videos
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      • WPP Final Conference: Innovative Strategies to Women's Empowerment in Jordan (August)
    • 2016 - 2018 Events
  • WPP
    • About Women As Partners In Progress
    • Objectives, Expected Results, and Core Elements
      • Knowledge Seminars and Leadership Workshops (Table)
    • Articles about the Project
    • Project Highlights and Success Stories
      • Jordan
      • Morocco
      • Kuwait
    • 'They Dared' Short Film
    • Final Conference
      • About the WPP Conference
      • Media Coverage and Social Media
      • Booklet
      • Photos
  • Media
    • Radio and Television Interviews
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Gibran Chair Explores Innovative Strategies to Women's Empowerment ⁠— Dead Sea, Jordan

Gibran hero image

Dead Sea, Jordan-- The WPP Final Conference was a three-day event focused on the results of the gender empowerment strategies implemented in the Arab world, in particular, the three WPP countries. Cultural events were a running thread throughout the Conference. The Conference was held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center at the Dead Sea from August 25 - 28, 2019.

Over the three days, 30 diverse women and men speakers took the stage, as well as a flash mob, dance groups, and theater troupes.

Minister Ghuneimat
H.E. Jumana Ghuneimat, State Minister for Media Affairs, delivering her opening remarks

 

The Conference was held under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Omar Razzaz, Prime Minister of Jordan. Deputizing for the Prime Minister was H.E. Jumana Ghunaimat, State Minister for Media Affairs, and government spokesperson. The more than 150 participants hailed from 12 countries including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Algeria, Palestine, Tunisia, Libya, and the US in addition to the three WPP partner countries Jordan, Morocco, and Kuwait.

Group picture

 

This historical event gathered urban and rural women from a myriad of sectors who presented both a highlight of the last two years of activities under the WPP project as well as quantitative and qualitative data, statistics and stories to raise the voices of Arab women and their empowerment and participation in economic, academic, political, and decision-making positions. 

 

Panel 1 Jordan
Jordan | Panel one: (L to R) H.E. Asma Khader, Mayyada Abu Jaber, May Rihani, H.E. Sawsan Majali, Rasha Laswi 

 

Amongst the results that were discussed at the Conference was the process that WPP Women Leaders and their allies used in Jordan and Morocco to change articles of the law that either discriminate against women or limit their choices. Two such articles and laws were successfully changed; one addressed the issue of women and the labor force (Article 69 in Jordan), and the other was on women and violence (Law 103-13 in Morocco). 

Morocco Panel 2
Morocco | Panel Three: (L to R) Saadia Waddah, Rhizlaine Benachir, Dr. Omayma Achour, May Rihani, Mohammed Abdelouahab Rafiqui

 

Another important process that was presented by the speakers from the three partnering countries was the process of changing mindsets. In Jordan, for example, they worked with the Ministry of Education as well as the directorship of the National Center for Curriculum Development to map textbooks within the Jordanian educational system in order to improve the portrayal of women and men, and girls and boys. WPP-Jordan mapped exactly 100 textbooks and recommended improvements in the portrayals of women and men, boys and girls. Many factors contributed to the success of this activity, including the approval of the recommendations by the Director of the National Center for Curriculum Development as well as by the Ministry of Education.

 

Kuwait panel
Kuwait | Panel Five: (L to R) Dr. Abeer Al Omar, Maha Albaghli, May Rihani, Dr .Alanoud Al Sharekh, Hosnia Hashem

 

Another example of the process of changing mindsets are the three plays that were created in the three WPP implementing countries.Tawazon in Jordan, Maktub in Morocco, and Kiri Miri in Kuwait. These plays addressed women and the labor force; women and inheritance, and women and traditional norms such as early marriage. All three plays were presented at different venues and universities in each country and an interactive discussion with the audience took place every time they were performed.

 

In summary, the Final WPP Conference was a total success given that it highlighted results and the methodologies on how to reach these results.

 

Conference Videos

Conference Program


 

Performances

"Maktub" by the theatre group Issil for theatre and culture (Morocco)

Maktub
Actors performing Maktub, a play about inheritance

 

 

"Tawzun" by The Jordan Performing Arts Center (Jordan)

Theatre pic
Actors perform Tawazon, a play about women in the laborforce
 
Tawazon
Dancers performing

 

Flash mob (Jordan):

Flashmob 2

 

 

Khammari Dance (Kuwait)

Dance
Traditional Khammari dance performed by Munirah Al Shami, a member of the Kuwaiti delegation

 

Group

The George and Lisa Zakhem Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace
University of Maryland, 3101 Chincoteague Hall,
7401 Preinkert Drive, College Park, MD 20742
Phone: 301-405-3711 ♦ Contact Us

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