Although Jordan is known for as a relatively stable country, it yet has to deal with a bunch of internal challenges and transformations. Social, economic and ethnic fragmentations are increasing, and demands for social justice, gender democracy and freedom of speech are on the rise. A wide range of social activists and initiatives engage in protest and demand change. In order to deepen knowledge of structures and elements of social injustice in Jordan, and to strengthen capacities for struggling for structural justice in the country, RLS collaborates with civil society organizations including research centers in their diverse activities for social justice.
2015 PARTNERS
Identity Center
Identity Center was founded in 2009 as an independent civil society organization assisting in leading development across the Middle East. Identity Center works to empower people to participate in political, economic, and social development and ultimately, shape and control their identities and destinies.
Project:“Building Support for Social Justice in Jordan”
In 2014, Identity Center started cooperation with RLS to create a comprehensive overview of the history and context of social justice issues in Jordan. In 2015, Identity Center is working on providing information and stimulating dialogue regarding under-explored issues of social justice in Jordan on a policy level, as well as engaging rural and marginalized youth at a grassroots level. Some major topics that will be tackled will focus on four key topics: education, healthcare, employment, and housing.
For more information, please visit the organization’s website:
http://www.identity-center.org/
Cultural Gathering of Jordanian Youth (Tasharouk)
Tasharouk is a non-profit civil society organization that was established in Jordan in 2010 to empower youth’s cultural, political, and social participation in Jordanian society.
Project:”Promotion of Youth Participation in Political & Social Activities”
At the end of 2014, Tasharouk started cooperation with RLS to educate youth on political participation and social justice to provide them with tools that help them advocate for their rights. In 2015, Tasharouk continues to enhance democratic and social participation for Jordanian youth. This includes dissemination of information and deepening the social and democratic ideas to promote progressive cultural trends of youth through developing youth networks and encourage them to use theatre as a communication and learning tool. Additionally, they will create alternative skills which provide an interactive and enlightening incubator to enable them to interact positively to help them open new horizons for young people to participate in the desired social change.
For more information, please visit the organization’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/871548559530904/
Publication: Refugee Affairs and Discourses in Jordan – Interview Project
It is the aim of the interview project to produce alternative and critical progressive knowledge about the current refugee affairs and discourses in Jordan, in particular with regards to the recent Syrian refugees groups. Based on the understanding that although Jordan is trying to provide a safe space for Syrian refugees, much of the mainstream discourses (public, media, etc.) show tendencies of a demonization of refugees. At times it seems that refugees are regarded the scapegoat for the manifold challenges Jordan is facing, e.g. the high rate of unemployment and poverty, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the socio-economic tensions, the increasing violence, etc. The planed publication based on several interviews aims to present and include critical and solidarity-oriented voices to the refugee discourse.