2013年-世界发展银行全球_Jordan_Country_Gender_Assessment___Economic_Participation_Agency_and_Access_to_Justice_in_Jordan_99页_3mb

Summary of the Jordan Country Gender Assessment

Core Content

This report, Jordan Country Gender Assessment (CGA), published by the World Bank in July 2013, evaluates the status of women's economic participation, agency, and access to justice in Jordan. It highlights the disparity between Jordan's progress in human development and the limited economic and political engagement of women, and outlines the institutional and legal frameworks that influence these outcomes.

Main Objectives

• To assess gender imbalances in economic participation, agency, and access to justice.
• To provide a policy framework for the Government of Jordan (GoJ) to address these imbalances.
• To support the implementation of the Jordan Gender Action Plan (GAP).
• To strengthen partnerships between GoJ agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and academic institutions for collaborative efforts on gender-related development issues.

Key Findings

Economic Participation

• Jordan has made significant progress in human development, with high literacy and education rates for women.
• Despite this, women's economic participation remains among the lowest globally, especially in the labor force.
• In 2010, female labor force participation was 22%, compared to 87% for males.
• Unemployment rates for women are significantly higher (20%) than for men (9.5%).
• Educated women face higher unemployment rates, indicating a mismatch between skills and job market demands.
• Women are concentrated in low-growth and low-productivity sectors, such as education and health, with only a small percentage in high-growth industries.
• Public sector employment is dominated by women, but it is not the most productive or dynamic part of the economy.
• Economic incentives and social norms play a major role in limiting women's economic opportunities and participation.

Agency and Access to Justice

• Women have limited control over economic assets such as land, inheritance, and pensions.
• Legal and social barriers restrict women's ability to make decisions in family and personal life.
• Social norms reinforce traditional gender roles, with the husband or father typically regarded as the head of the household and the decision-maker.
• Legal restrictions include:
  • Mandatory retirement ages for women.
  • Discriminatory access to employment and pension benefits.
  • Restrictions on freedom of movement and travel.
  • Limitations on nationality transmission to foreign spouses.
  • Unequal grounds for divorce and marriage.
• Access to justice is hindered by:
  • High rates of non-legal recourse due to financial constraints and social stigma.
  • Gender bias in legal procedures and social norms that prevent women from seeking legal help.
  • Unreported disputes and lack of legal empowerment.
• Recent reforms have introduced some positive changes, such as new grounds for divorce and improved alimony and child support services, but implementation remains a challenge due to conflicting social norms.

Policy and Institutional Frameworks

• Jordan has a National Strategy on Women and the Jordan National Commission for Women (JNCW) to promote gender equality.
• However, policy implementation is weak, with limited funding and poor coordination between agencies.
• Data collection on gender issues is inadequate, especially in public sector institutions.
• The Gender Unit of MoPIC is the primary counterpart in GoJ for gender-related policy coordination.
• The Jordan New Work Opportunities for Women (JORDAN NOW) program aims to improve women's access to the labor market.

Key Challenges

• Educational mismatch between women's skills and private sector demands.
• Social norms and legal restrictions that limit women's economic and political agency.
• Low levels of women's participation in decision-making and leadership roles.
• Institutional weaknesses in data collection, policy implementation, and coordination.
• Gender bias in the legal system and limited access to justice for women, especially in personal status and economic disputes.

Policy Implications

• Strengthening institutional coordination and data collection on gender issues is essential.
• Enhancing women's access to credit, land, and other economic assets is critical for increasing their economic participation.
• Reforming legal frameworks to remove discriminatory provisions and promote gender equality.
• Implementing targeted programs to support women's entrepreneurship and employment in high-growth sectors.
• Improving access to legal services and promoting legal awareness among women.
• Encouraging policy dialogue with CSOs, local governments, and community leaders, especially in areas of high poverty.

Conclusion

Jordan has made impressive progress in human development, particularly in health and education, but this has not translated into equivalent gains in women's economic participation and agency. Social norms and legal barriers continue to restrict women's opportunities and autonomy, especially in the economic and political spheres. The Jordan Gender Action Plan aims to address these issues through improved policy implementation, institutional coordination, and partnerships with civil society and local communities. The success of these efforts will depend on effective implementation of reforms and a shift in societal attitudes toward gender equality.