Women's Participation Crucial for Fair Development, Equality Center States

The Equality Center emphasized that women's participation in planning and decision-making is a fundamental condition for achieving fair and sustainable local development. This statement was made during a field visit organized by the center to Jisr az-Zarqa on Sunday, as part of the "Arab Women Entrepreneurs Network" project. The visit included social activists, local council members, and entrepreneurs from various Arab towns, aiming to understand the economic, social, and planning challenges facing Jisr az-Zarqa and to explore development opportunities and women's roles in influencing policies.

The visit featured a meeting with the local council leadership and social activists, learning about local women's experiences, and a field tour examining the relationship between land, planning, natural resources, and economic opportunities. During the meeting at the local council, headed by Lama Nashashibi Khoury, coordinator of the Entrepreneurs Network at the Equality Center, the Head of the Local Council, Murad Amash, highlighted the town's economic and social gaps compared to neighboring areas. He cited limited land for development, high population density, and a lack of jobs and infrastructure as key issues. Amash also discussed the impact of planning policies, including road construction in 1964, the separation fence in 2000, and the delayed approval of the master plan until 2018, on the town's development and residents' livelihoods.

Participants stressed the necessity of women's involvement in setting needs and priorities, preparing plans and budgets, and monitoring project implementation, particularly in employment, tourism, small businesses, infrastructure, and community services. Jamil Amash discussed the importance of utilizing available budgets and resources, while Hedayeh Jarban's role in enhancing communication between the council and women activists was also noted. Raseem Jarban presented challenges faced by social workers in supporting needy families.

Jaafar Farah, Director of the Equality Center, reviewed the center's work with Jisr az-Zarqa residents and the local council, including legal and public efforts to address land, planning, and housing issues, and to defend the rights of fishermen and local businesses on the shore. He highlighted the center's interventions against demolition orders in the fishermen's village and its support for entrepreneur Hamama Jarban, emphasizing continued cooperation between local authorities, rights organizations, and community initiatives.

The program continued with a field tour led by activist Kifaya Amash, where participants learned about Jisr az-Zarqa's history, the Gharana community's roots, and the residents' relationship with the land, sea, and Crocodile Valley. The tour showcased women's roles in preserving collective memory and popular heritage, and in leading community and economic initiatives despite spatial and resource limitations. Hamama Jarban's experience as a fisherwoman and entrepreneur facing demolition orders was highlighted, sparking discussion on residents' rights to their coastline and natural resources.

The visit concluded with a communal lunch, facilitating further exchange of experiences. Lama Nashashibi Khoury stated that development requires addressing disparities in land and resource distribution and ensuring women's participation in setting priorities. She added that the network aims to empower women to understand and influence policies and decision-making processes, ensuring their effective role in shaping their communities' future. The project, initiated by the Equality Center in partnership with Na'amat Magen Triangle and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, is supported by the European Union and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, aiming to increase Arab women's participation in public life and leadership positions.