This is an important step, especially for the Middle East region where challenges exist at numerous levels and which need to be addressed simultaneously in order to succeed. Today, however, the pertinent question before us concerns the role of media and information technology in increasing the number and effectiveness of women in politics.

As a means of advancement and increased competitiveness both at national and global levels, I believe this field has a great deal to offer the region. Equally, the media and technology sectors, as well as knowledge sharing mechanisms, including Arabic content online, have much to gain. Another vital outcome which I hope will be achieved is to bring about change in national and regional perceptions regarding the role of women in society – generally – and women politicians in particular.

We are all aware of the complexities of this goal. However, the impact of media and information technology has already been well documented in recent years in countries like the US, or in Europe where politicians who have won elections can clearly credit the media and advances in ICT for their success. Women political leaders have risen to some of the most commanding positions in the world, having utilized the power of the media and new media to the advantage of their political message and interaction with their constituencies.

Yet we understand that campaigning in the more mature democracies has gone hand in hand with a more practised media and an advanced IT infrastructure that has ensured speedy delivery of images and messages. By contrast, in the Middle East, the role of the media in influencing the results of elections and the rise of politicians is still in its infancy. Arab politicians have largely used the community based structures of personal family networks and tribal, clan, or regional affiliations to rally support among voters. Political parties are also still young in the Middle East region. Therefore, it cannot yet be legitimately argued that the advent of 21st century technology and its utilization by the media have contributed significantly to the rise of Arab politicians.

Democratization in the region remains a slow process which faces various setbacks including regional instability and conflict, economic imbalances, and the lack of freedom to engage in a meaningful democratic process. Such setbacks have not only hindered the democratization process, but have also delayed efforts aimed at promoting women’s empowerment and equal participation in decision-making.

Women in the Arab region have, for the most part, reached senior political positions through positive discrimination that has brought them to parliament or municipal councils either by appointment or through a quota system. Indeed, countries that have adopted measures to enhance the role of women through such means, have done so largely in order to include advocates for women's rights in their executive and legislative bodies.

We in Jordan realize we are not unique in the challenges we face to bring about the change needed for women to participate more fully in political life. Many societies before ours have had to address cultural and patriarchal beliefs along the way. Jordan recognizes that it needs to promote and encourage its citizens to choose their representatives based on merit rather than other considerations, and is promoting the view that the right representative in a democratic process could well be a woman.

The Jordanian National Commission for Women with which I am involved, has worked over a long period to lobby and secure a quota system to bring women to municipal councils. Today, this means that we have 245 women representatives. These council members serve in what could be referred to as the “incubator” of political leadership in Jordan, but they are also giving voice to other Jordanian women, by articulating their concerns and advocating on their behalf.

Such women, including parliamentarians, senators and cabinet ministers, whether appointed or by quota, must play their part in modifying, the entrenched patriarchal social structures. They may also reduce or remove the apparent distrust of gender reform that has sometimes been seen to be an “imposed” policy or in contradiction with religious or societal traditions. As these changes occur we will witness an increased participation of women in political life. However, while I make these linkages and look forward to new gains for the status of women and women politicians in the region, as someone who has worked on such issues for many years, I must articulate what I believe to be a valid threat to the development of such processes, namely the consequences of poverty and the imbalanced distribution of wealth.

The Arab Human Development Report for 2003 examined and analyzed the societal, cultural, economic and political factors that impacted the Arab knowledge system and the creation of an Arab knowledge society. It clearly stated that the demand for knowledge was weakened not only by faltering economic growth, but also by the over-concentration of wealth in a few hands.

United Nations reports that have looked at the economic disparities affecting women in the region have pointed to a “digital divide” or “digital exclusion” that comes as a result of the fact that the majority of the rural populations of the countries of the “south” have been left out of the information revolution, because of lack of infrastructure, limited resources, high connectivity costs, low levels of technological skills, low educational skills and high illiteracy. This has resulted in inter-country disparities in access to ICT whereby large population segments are left out of this new wave and therefore miss out on the benefits that ICT can offer.

Here in Jordan, there are segments of society which cannot afford access to such technologies. Poverty often prevents the poor from using these means, and despite efforts both regionally and within Jordan to overcome both the causes and effects of poverty, many people, the majority of whom are women, still live in conditions that preclude any chance of advancement, irrespective of opportunities for social equality, or the availability of new technologies.

It is therefore essential for local and national development NGOs to align their efforts in alleviating poverty with those aimed at using technological and knowledge sharing initiatives for women's empowerment. One such example can be seen at the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, where ICT training programmes have been introduced in community development centres based in rural and underprivileged areas. We have also created a knowledge network for women councilors to facilitate and coordinate their activities and make use of their newly-acquired skills to promote themselves politically. Hence, for NGOs and other regional counterparts, a new opportunity presents itself today with the launch of the Arabic iKNOW Politics website.

Finally, if Arab women in politics is the realization of the possible, then promoting their political roles promises to be one of the outcomes of a new technology and media landscape, in addition to highlighting the important responsibilities that women have always assumed in our society. Not only will iKNOW politics Arabic website draw attention to these achievements, it will help to set positive change in motion by engaging its members in an open dialogue, and creating a forum in which information and knowledge exchange can consolidate the voices of women from all over the world. I am confident that greater insight into the cause and message of individual members in the Arab region will be gained through the powerful medium which iKNOW politics Arabic website provides.

To read the full article please visit The Jordan Times website.

To read the full article please visit The Jordan Times website.