Every year, on 15 October, the world observes the International Day of Rural Women. On this occasion, the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) reaffirms the importance of protecting and promoting the rights of rural women and recognising their vital role in achieving sustainable development, strengthening food security, supporting local economies, and preserving natural resources and cultural and social heritage.
In this context, the NCHR commends the efforts undertaken to protect and promote women’s rights, beginning with the Jordanian Constitution of 1952 and its amendments. Article 6 of the Constitution establishes the principles of equality and non-discrimination, while subsequent constitutional amendments reaffirm the State’s commitment to empowering and supporting women to play an active role in building society, ensuring equal opportunities based on justice and equity, and protecting women from all forms of violence and discrimination.
Jordan has also ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which was published in the Official Gazette in 2007, without entering a reservation to Article 14. This article addresses the rights of rural women, including their participation in the formulation and implementation of development planning, access to agricultural credit and loans, marketing facilities and appropriate technology, equal treatment in land and agrarian reform schemes, and the enjoyment of adequate living conditions.
The Centre also commends the efforts undertaken through the issuance of Agricultural Workers Regulation No. 19 of 2021 and its amendments, as well as the Instructions on Procedures for the Inspection of Agricultural Activities of 2021, as important steps towards strengthening legal protection for workers in the agricultural sector.
On this occasion, the NCHR reiterates the recommendations outlined in its annual reports, calling for the continued implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy to promote social justice, address the economic gender gap, protect women from poverty and violence, improve their access to healthcare and education, and integrate the needs and priorities of rural women into development policies.
The Centre further emphasises the need to strengthen oversight by the relevant authorities of workplaces employing women in the agricultural sector, ensuring compliance with occupational safety and health standards and the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment, including first-aid supplies, protective footwear, masks, and gloves. These measures are essential to safeguarding women agricultural workers against occupational hazards and ensuring their right to physical safety.
The NCHR also stresses the importance of effectively implementing the Agricultural Workers Regulation and its amendments, and adopting appropriate employment contracts that reflect the nature and conditions of agricultural work while safeguarding women’s rights concerning working hours, wages, leave entitlements, social and health insurance, and maternity and breastfeeding rights.
The Centre calls for the establishment of flexible agricultural insurance programmes for women working in agriculture to mitigate losses resulting from drought and climate change, alongside stronger measures to address water scarcity and the adoption of public policies responsive to the climate-related challenges facing rural communities.
Furthermore, the NCHR emphasises the importance of encouraging rural women’s participation in local committees, community councils, and decision-making processes at the governorate and village levels. It also calls for facilitating their access to productive resources and ensuring that women farmers can obtain interest-free concessional loans under flexible conditions suited to the realities of rural life and the needs of women working in agriculture.
The Centre further highlights the need to strengthen training and capacity-building opportunities for rural women through specialised programmes in sustainable agriculture, small business management, marketing, home-based food processing, and traditional crafts. It also encourages the adoption of modern technologies that improve productivity and reduce operating costs, including hydroponics, precision agriculture, and renewable energy solutions.
The NCHR also stresses the importance of enhancing digital literacy and empowerment among women, particularly rural women, through accessible and specialised training programmes addressing safe internet use, awareness of various forms of digital violence, and the protection of personal data.
In this regard, the Centre calls for greater participation of rural women in economic activities, increased support for women-led small and productive enterprises, and stronger engagement by the business sector in advancing rural women’s economic and social empowerment through corporate social responsibility initiatives.
The National Centre for Human Rights reiterates that protecting rural women’s rights, strengthening their economic and social participation, and ensuring their access to resources, services, and legal protection are essential to achieving sustainable development, social justice, and equal opportunities.
