Arab Women Leaders Against Corruption

Amman, Jordan – At least eight countries in the Arab region are planning to hold elections through the remainder of 2011.  As the campaign seasons picks up, many of the candidates will promise reforms to root out corruption in their countries; others will promise a better, more responsive government.

As the events of the Arab Spring have shown, the energized electorate is ready to hold these newly elected and re-elected officials to higher standards of representation.

The Arab Women’s Leadership Institute (AWLI) believes that now more than ever, women in the Arab region can play an integral role in promoting government accountability – as long as they have the tools and leadership skills.

From October 7-9, AWLI invited members to attend a training in Amman, Jordan, entitled, Citizens and Government Fighting Against Corruption.  The participants included municipal counselors and electoral candidates from nine countries, along with civil society activists and young leaders who play a large role in providing transparency and accountability in their home countries.   

“In my country, they wanted us women to stay in the tents,” said Hana Huwaidi, an AWLI member about the protests happening in her home in Yemen.  “But we refused to stay in the tents while change was happening.  And we must do the same if we want to fight against corruption.”

The participants were joined by Dr. Ali Al Dabass, a commissioner for the National Center on Human Rights in Jordan and an attorney.  He discussed his efforts on the United Nation’s Convention Against Corruption, which was passed by the organization in 2005 and spells out international agreements to fighting corruption world-wide.  It has been ratified by almost every country in the Arab world.

AWLI also invited Jozef Petráš and Róbert Dúbravec from the city of Martin in Slovakia to discuss the highly acclaimed Transparent City project they helped develop which put the city procurement process on line and for all to monitor.

In addition to the practical information, the participants received training on how the characteristics of a leader could be used to fight against corruption.

“As a leader against corruption, what are you willing to do?  You can’t simply say you won’t take a bribe – you must work to make your office as open and transparent as possible, and set the bar higher for other government officials in your country to reach for,” said AWLI’s Executive Director Amie Woeber.

AWLI was established by the International Republican Institute in 2008 with funding from the National Endowment for Democracy, the Middle East Partnership Initiative, and other private donors.  Its mission is to strengthen the democratic development of women in the Arab region by providing the skills, resources, and connections necessary to succeed as elected or appointed officials, within civil society, and as community leaders.

AWLI roots its foundation in the belief that the path toward a democratic Arab world is only possible with the integral political and social participation of women.