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Civil Society and Democracy
CSD in Brief
1.
Introduction
The Civil Society and Democratic Development Program
is associated with the emergence of UJRC, which was
directly linked to the democratic transformation and
the release of the political diversity in the
Kingdom. The program is executed on behalf of UJRC,
representing one of the civil society institutions
in Jordan, and enjoying specialized features. It
diverts its major interest to democratic issues,
which are the key to political, economic, and social
development.
The program specifically directs its attention to
study the status of the Jordanian Civil Society, and
to introduce its different groups, issues and
development process. It also attempts to contribute
to the enhancement of civil society organizations'
ability to raise their status and strengthen their
role in public life, in an effort to help protect
the democratic development and the establishment of
democratic methods in the country's lifestyle at
different levels.
The program activities include organizing
conferences, seminars and workshops, preparing
research papers and issuing books and reports, in
addition to the regular "Civil Society Issues"
magazine.
2. Program Objectives
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Developing the
culture of civil society and democracy in
Jordan, by organizing activities, carrying out
researches, and issuing publications that would
serve this goal.
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Contributing
to the accomplishment of sustainable democracy
by encouraging national debate and political
participation, and developing legislations that
are relevant to enhancing the civil society's
institutional role and deepening democratic
transformation in the Kingdom.
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Building a
database of the different categories of civil
society organizations and of developments on the
democratic process in Jordan.
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Provide
training, rehabilitation, and enlightenment
opportunities for activates of civil society
organizations.
3.
Program Structure
The Program carries out its activities under the
direct supervision of UJRC Executive Director.
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CSD Program
Activities
The Jordanian Civil Alliance for Democratic Elections (JOCADE)
Upon initiative by Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center, several Jordanian NGO’s summoned in mid April 2007 to discuss the responsibilities of the Jordanian civil society towards the upcoming municipal and parliamentary elections. These organizations agreed on creating an alliance entitled “The Jordanian Civil Alliance for Democratic Elections” (JOCADE). Attendees discussed and approved the objectives of JOCADE. Consequently, these organizations conveyed this initiative and product to a wider audience of organizations, which showed their enthusiasm to being among the founding members of this unprecedented initiative.
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1. Conferences,
Seminars, and Workshops
- During the years 2006-2008
2006/ 2007/ 2008 Study Days project for Civil Society
leaders and activists
In August 2006, UJRC launched a pioneer project
entitled “Study Days for Leaders & Activists of
Jordanian Civil Society Organisations”. The first of
its kind in Jordan, this project aims at building
the capacities of civil society leaders and
activists, through training, exchanging experiences
and presenting best practices of each CSO for mutual
learning purposes.
Focal themes of the 2006-2007 Study Days:
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First study day: Overviewing survey outcomes of
the opinion poll conducted on civil society leaders
in Jordan.
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Second study day: The National Priorities: the
National Agenda 2005-2015 & We Are All Jordan.
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Third study day: Civil Society and Mechanisms of
Influencing Policy-Making.
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Fourth study day: Educating CSOs on organising
advocacy campaigns to gain the support of the
Parliament; the political parties’ law as a case
study.
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Fifth study day: Civil Society and creating
Alliances, Networks, Coalitions and Umbrellas.
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Sixth study day: Improving the legislative
environment governing CSOs' work; law no. 33 of 1966
and the new CSOs bill.
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Seventh study day: Partnership between Civil
Society Organisations and the Government.
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Eighth study day: Partnership between Civil
Society Organisations and the Private Sector;
corporate governance & social responsibility.
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Ninth study day: Credibility of Civil Society in
dealing with the public and mainstreaming values of
democracy.
Based on the successes of this pioneer project, UJRC
launched the second phase in July 2007. Another set
of nine themes are being addressed at nine new study
days workshops for Jordanian CSOs.
Focal
themes of the 2007-2008 Study Days:
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First study day: The role of
civil society in political, economic and social
reform.
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Second study day: Enhancing
the role of CSOs in strengthening political and
electoral participation.
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Third study day: Strategic
thinking and planning.
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Fourth study day: Writing,
managing and monitoring proposals.
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Fifth study day: Financial
stability of CSO’s: towards a partnership with
the private sector.
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Sixth study day: Advanced
advocacy as a tool for enhancing the influence
of civil society in reform policies.
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Seventh study day: Good
governance in CSOs.
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Eighth study day: Gender
mainstreaming in CSOs’ structure, management,
and activities.
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Ninth study day: Enhancing
the communication and media skills of CSOs.
Project publications:
To document the proceedings and outcomes of this
project, UJRC is publishing a series of reports
on each set of 3 study days. This provides for
future documentation of the working papers,
discussions and recommendations derived, and ensures
wider outreach, dissemination, and benefit. Reports
are distributed to CSO’s, policy makers, private
sector and concerned stakeholders pertaining to
Jordanian civil society and its role in society.
To view
reports:
- During the years 2001-2005
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National Consultative Meeting: Held by
UJRC to discuss the participation of Jordanian
Civil Society Organizations in the
Euro-Mediterranean Forum, in Luxemburg, 2005.
Place: Hussein Cultural Center, Amman, January
17, 2005.
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Discussion Session: UJRC organized a
discussion session with the Sudanese Ambassador
in Amman, at the Sudanese Community Club, Amman,
January 15, 2005.
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Meeting: On the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of Jordanian – Japanese relations,
UJRC organized this meeting with the
participation of a delegation representing youth
from the Jordanian Universities. Place:
Foresight Art Gallery, Amman, August 16, 2004.
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Brainstorming Session: "The Civil Society
Issues" magazine; UJRC held a brainstorming
session to discuss the trends and plans for
developing the CSI magazine, especially after
having it officially licensed as a specialized
magazine. Place: UJRC Meetings Hall, June 16,
2004.
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Meeting of the National Consultative
Committee for the Civil Society Organizations
Directory: UJRC held the first meeting for
the National Consultative Committee supervising
the CSO Directory. This was within the framework
of the preparations for launching the project of
a Directory to Assess the State of Civil Society
in Jordan. Place: UJRC Meetings Hall, January
28, 2004.
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Discussion Session: Successful Youth
Experiences: Nassim Tuffaha; Arab American
speaks about his personal experience. UJRC
Meetings Hall, April 30, 2003.
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Workshop: The Future Effects of the
Regional Developments in Palestine and Iraq on
Jordan: Social Impact. UJRC Meetings Hall, March
24, 2003.
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Workshop: The Future Effects of the
Regional Developments in Palestine and Iraq on
Jordan: Economic Impact. UJRC Meetings Hall,
March 15, 2003.
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Workshop: The Future Effects of the
Regional Developments in Palestine and Iraq on
Jordan: Political Impact. UJRC Meetings Hall,
March 11, 2003.
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Brainstorming Session: UJRC held a
brainstorming session with Dr. Abdul Elah Al
Khatib, the Jordanian former Foreign Minister.
UJRC Meetings Hall, November 27, 2002.
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Workshop: The role of Arab Americans in
the US Foreign Policy before and after September
11. UJRC Meetings Hall, September 16, 2002.
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Workshop: Russia and Arab Affairs after
September 11 Attacks. UJRC Meetings Hall, August
17, 2002.
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Workshop: Arab and Iraqi National Choices
and the Scenarios for Attacking Iraq. Marmara
Hotel, Amman, July 28, 2002.
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Workshop: Prospects of Arab - American
Dialogue after September 11, 2001. UJRC Meetings
Hall, July 7, 2002.
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Workshop: The United States and Arab
Affairs after September 11 Attacks. Days Inn
Hotel, Amman, July 10, 2002.
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Discussion Session: Arab Elites after
September 11, 2001. Marmara Hotel, Amman,
October 28, 2001.
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Seminar: The World after Durban and the
September 11 Attacks. UJRC Meetings Hall,
October 15, 2001.
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Seminar: From Durban to September 11.
UJRC Meetings Hall, October 7, 2001.
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Workshop: Brainstorming with Foreign Minister
Dr. Abdul Elah Al Khatib. UJRC Meetings Hall,
September 22, 2001.
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Workshop: Iranian View of the Political
Developments in Iran. UJRC Meetings Hall, June
20, 2001.
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Workshop: The Latest Reforms in Iran:
Between Potential and Expectation. UJRC Meetings
Hall, June 13, 2001.
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Workshop: The Third Road and Modern
Political Thinking in Europe and the Arab World.
Marmara Hotel, Amman, March 28-29, 2001.
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During the years 1994- 2000:
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Seminar:
Ten Years from the Inception of the
Democratic Process in Jordan. Radisson Hotel, Amman,
September 6-8, 1998.
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National Symposium:
The Development of
Legislations on Democracy. This was conducted
through a series of seven workshops held during the
period July 21 – August 8, 1999, at UJRC Meetings
Hall:
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First Workshop:
Freedom of the Press, July 21,
1999.
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Second Workshop: Participation and Voting Rights,
July 25, 1999.
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Third Workshop: Political Freedom and the Right
to Organize Gatherings, July 27, 1999.
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Fourth Workshop:
Personal Status and Citizenship,
August 1, 1999.
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Fifth Workshop:
Legislations Concerning Security
and Public Safety, August 3, 1999.
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Sixth Workshop: Observing the Constitutionality
of the Laws, August 4, 1999.
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Seventh Workshop: Work Legislations and Social
Security, August 8, 1999.
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Symposium:
Professional Associations and the
Challenges of Democratic Transformation in Jordan. A
series of five workshops were held during the period
September 15 – 26, 1998, at UJRC Meetings Hall:
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First Workshop: Internal Democracy and
Characteristics of Establishing Professional
Associations. September 15, 1998.
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Second Workshop:
Women and Professional
Associations. September 16, 1998.
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Third Workshop: The Political and Professional
Role of Professional Associations. September 21,
1998.
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Fourth Workshop: Workers Relations and Union
Rights in Arab and International Conventions.
September 22, 1998.
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Fifth Workshop: Professional Associations as Part
of Civil Society, September 26, 1998.
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Seminar: Freedom of the Media and the Press in
Jordan. Le Meridian Hotel, Amman, October 28-29,
1997.
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Conference:
Jordanian Political Parties -
Restrictions and Opportunities. The Royal Cultural
Center, Amman. December 1-2, 1996.
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Seminar: National Charter and Democratic
Transformation Issues in Jordan. Amra Hotel, Amman,
June 15-17, 1996.
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Seminar: Democracy and the Rule of Law. The Royal
Cultural Center, Amman, November 19-21, 1995.
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Workshop: Training the Political Party. Regency
Palace, Amman, June 11-15, 1994.
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Conference: The Jordanian Democratic Movement.
Regency Palace, Amman, May 31- June 2, 1994.
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Seminar:
The Jordanian Writer's Anxiety. League
of Jordanian Writers, Amman, February 8, 1994.
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2.
Researches 1995-2000
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Civil
Society and Governance in Jordan
An international research project included 22
countries, four of which are Arab: Egypt,
Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. The research
included eleven cases concerning the Muslim
Brotherhood's boycott of the 1997 parliamentary
elections, professional and political
complications in the role of professional
associations, water pollution in the capital in
1998, Anti-Normalization, the Jordanian
Environmental Society, the Jordanian Afaf
Society, Al Amal Center for Healing, Civil
Society and the Jordanian press facing the
Publishing Law, Jordanian women and political
participation, the inability of Jordanian youth
to establish an independent union, the role of
The Friends of Chechnya and Ingushetia in the
Russian-Chechen war 1994-1996.
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Public
Non-Governmental Organizations in the
Palestinian Refugee Camps in Jordan; a
project implemented in the year 2000.
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Political
parties in Jordan; a regional research
project included ten Arab countries and was
executed in the year 1999.
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Civil
Society and the public sphere in Amman; a
research project that included number of Islamic
African and Asian capitals and was implemented
in the year 1995.
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Islamic
Brotherhood Party in Jordan; a project
implemented in the year 1995.
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Islamic
Movements and Organizations in Jordan; a
project implemented in the year 1995.
The Civil Society and the
Jordanian Political Scene Series 1993 - 1998
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