This case study comes from the Jordanian Civic Activists Toolkit II: Case Studies of Jordanian Advocacy Campaigns (Full Book).

The Amman-based Solidarity Is Global Institute/Jordan (SIGI/J) was formerly known as the Sisterhood is Global Institute/Jordan.

A campaign for women’s rights

This campaign underlines the long-term dedication Sisterhood is Global Institute-Jordan (SIGI) has had to address deep-rooted rights violations. SIGI has dedicated over twenty years to eradicating discriminatory laws against girls and women. The institute utilizes human rights foundations of Jordanian and international law.

This national level campaign celebrates the success of the entire Jordanian women’s movement to abolish Article 308 in the Penal Code which allowed a rapist to escape prosecution if he married his victim. In an additional triumph, decision-makers also abolished Article 98 that reduced charges in certain crimes involving the murder of women. They also passed a Personal Status Law to eliminate an exception that forced girls under 18 to get married.