EMPOWERING WOMEN IN JORDANIAN LEGISLATIONS: A STUDY IN LIGHT OF THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) AND THE AMENDMENTS TO THE JORDANIAN CONSTITUTION IN 2022

Abstract

Jordan has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) with reservations about some of its provisions for reasons related to the state's religious and national identity. Therefore, Jordanian legislations varied in terms of their compatibility with this Convention. On the other hand, a new text was added to the Jordanian Constitution under the 2022 amendments aimed at empowering women and protecting them from all forms of violence and discrimination. This added text raised the question of whether it paves the way for the lifting of reservations to CEDAW. In light of this added constitutional text, this study seeks to address and analyze Jordanian legislation to determine their role in empowering women, and to indicate their compatibility or incompatibility with CEDAW.  This study concluded that Jordanian legislations include many provisions aimed at empowering women politically, economically and socially in a manner consistent with CEDAW, while preserving the regulation of the issue of nationality, personal status and family affairs in accordance with the interests of the state and its religious affiliation, and in contravention with CEDAW. The study recommended the necessity of stipulating in the constitution to grant Jordanian nationality to the children of Jordanian women married to non-Jordanians as a woman’s right, and then lifting the reservation regarding this matter in CEDAW.