The Spanish Cooperation in Action: Transformative Alliances for the Rights of Rural Palestinian and Jordanian Women with Disabilities
“The Spanish Cooperation in Action: Transformative Alliances for the promotion of the rights of rural Palestinian and Jordanian women with disabilities,” was the title of the international congress of the Foundation for Social Promotion, chaired by the Hispano-Lebanese Jumana Trad Yunes. The event, held at the Casa Arabe in Madrid, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID), the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), as well as organizations working in Palestine and Jordan.
Amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, there was a general consensus on the role of international cooperation as a source of hope for peace. The congress, organized by the Social Promotion Foundation through its Middle East Studies Center (CEMO), focused on the role of civil society in promoting gender equality as a human right in Palestine and Jordan.
Suzan Sahori, the director of Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, presented her organization as a fair trade group dedicated to supporting women artisans across Palestine, preserving their rich heritage. She praised Palestinian women as a silent force that sustains their communities. Regarding rural women, Sahori emphasized their role in preserving traditions and supporting their families, despite facing significant challenges in accessing professional and economic opportunities.
Anni Medzhagopian, director of the Jordanian organization Al Hussein Society, highlighted the multiple discriminations faced by women with disabilities in Jordan, affecting education, employment, and decision-making. The organization works with particular dedication in refugee camps in Azraq, Mafraq, Ramtha, and North Azraq to empower disabled women.
The congress also featured speakers like Miriam Ciscar from the AECID’s Feminist Cooperation Department and Raúl Compés from CIHEAM, who emphasized the need for multilateral cooperation to address crises in the Mediterranean region. Gema Talavín from the Social Promotion Foundation shared the organization’s achievements in empowering women through international cooperation.
During breaks, an interesting comparison was made – the global funding for international cooperation equals the cost of a single F16 aircraft, as noted by former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet.
