Parallel Event during CSW65

Under its Political Feminism Programme in the MENA region, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and its partner,­­­ Solidarity is Global Institute – Jordan (SIGI-JO), held an NGO CSW65 Virtual Forum Parallel Event on the “Amman Principles” of National Mechanisms for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

The Amman Principles Project

In 2020, FES commenced a project in partnership with SIGI-Jo that aims at developing a set of principles for national mechanisms for gender equality and women’s empowerment in line with the Paris Principles for national human rights institutions. The set of principles are meant to counter the challenges and accommodate the global changes that negatively affect the work of these national mechanisms and to accelerate the progress towards gender equality.

Following research and various consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders, a set of nine principles, titled the “Amman Principle”, were developed. The principles offer ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, independence, sustainability, and impact of national mechanism, while proposing accreditation processes and criteria. Learn more about the “Amman Principles” project here.

Event Details

Aiming to open an international dialogue on the developed set of principles and their importance as an international instrument that aims to push forward the gender equality agenda, FES and SIGI-Jo hosted the first global event under this project. During the event, the speakers gave an overview on the background, progress and limitations of national mechanisms before presenting the first draft of the “Amman Principles.”

Welcome:

• Katia Schnellecke, Director for the regional Political Feminism Programme in the MENA region, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Speakers:

• Mervat Rashmawi, Senior Human Rights Consultant, Researcher and Policy Analyst, MENA Specialist
• Dr. Salma Nims, Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women
• H.E Asma Khader, Founder and Executive Director of Solidarity is Global Institute - Jordan

Moderator:

• Dr. Ibtesam Al-Atiyat, Professor of Sociology, Race and Ethnic Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies, St. Olaf College