Wikipedia

Hadeel Abdel Aziz

Hadeel Abdel Aziz (Arabic: هديل عبد العزيز) is a Jordanian Legal expert and human rights activist who is also a founding member and executive director of the Jordan-based NGO, Justice Center for Legal Aid (JCLA).[1][2][3][4] Her work includes advocating for judicial reform, court automation, and providing access to justice projects through a network of legal aid clinics that help others in civil, criminal, and family, including Sharia law.[5][3] On 8 March, she received the 2023 International Women of Courage Award,[6] which was presented to her and other nominees by Jill Biden and Anthony J. Blinken at the U.S. Department of State.[7][8][9] She is also the recipient of the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law award, which was presented to her during the 60th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty on 22 January 2023.[10][11]

Hadeel Abdel Aziz
هديل عبد العزيز
Hadeel Abdel Aziz 2023
NationalityJordanian
EducationBachelor of Laws from the University of Jordan.
Certified as a judicial administrator by Michigan State University.
Occupation(s)Founder and Executive Director, JCLA
Court administration unit manager, USAID
Years active2004 to present
OrganizationJCLA
AwardsInternational Women of Courage Award.
Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
Eisenhower Fellowships.
Websitewww.jcla-org.com/en

Education and certification

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Abdel Aziz holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Jordan and became the first Jordanian to be certified as a judicial administrator by Michigan State University.[12]

Career

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Court administration unit manager

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Before founding JCLA, Abdel Aziz worked for USAID from 2004 to 2009 as a Court Administration Unit manager for its Rule of Law Program.[13]

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Her work under JCLA is reported as providing service for the underprivileged, advocating for state-funded legal aid with the overall focus on legal empowerment— ″putting the law in the hands of the average person″ through tools tailored to educate people on their fundamental rights and support communities to navigate and set-up solutions and tools.[1][3]

Human rights defender

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As a frontline[6] defender of various marginalized groups including juveniles, refugees, migrants, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, DOS applauded Aziz for exhibiting a clear-sighted[6] vision to help strengthen the justice system in Jordan. Her advocacy work against honor crimes- detaining women for their own “protection” was also highlighted. As a board of Trustees at the National Center for Human Rights, she highlighted the importance of details in rights-based issues to young Jordanian reporters.[14][15]

Women, children, and victims of terrorism

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Her other effort includes advocating for the abolishment of the controversial Jordan's rape law, Article 308, and help enforcing the persecution of criminals.[16][17][18][19] She highlighted her work in a distinguished panel at the UN[20] and participated in World Bank-sponsored projects, and other platforms.[21][22][23][24] At the UN panel, she discussed the importance of accessing justice for victims of terrorism during the Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism event.[20]

Migrant workers

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For the ongoing issue of migrant workers[25] and decry against the abuses of Jordanian employers, Abdel Aziz recognized the gap, stated the repatriation of nine abused Filipinos domestic helpers, and discussed challenges in the implementation of law and tools.[26]

International support

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In 2015, the World Bank selected JCLA and Abdel Aziz to provide the Nigerian government with technical support in which she engaged with a series of legal aid capacity-building and quality assurance workshops in Nigeria.[27][21][28]

Awards and fellowship

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Eisenhower Fellowship

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Abdel Aziz obtained funding from the Eisenhower Fellowships[29] to implement a country-wide Pro bono program[27] that partners with the Jordanian legal system and serves the underrepresented.[30][4]

International Women of Courage Award

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Abdel Aziz is a recipient of the 2023 International Women of Courage Award which was hosted by the U.S. Department of State and specifically awarded to those who demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership.[6][9] Her work on defending human rights and legally representing the underserved was recognized.

Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law

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She received this award for her lifelong dedication to the rule of law and her work in promoting and defending the human rights of women and girls. The award is given to human rights defenders worldwide, who work every day, often in dangerous circumstances, to protect and strengthen human rights.[10][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Home Page | Justice Center for Legal Aid". JCLA. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  2. ^ "الصفحة الرئيسية | مركز العدل للمساعدة القانونية". JCLA (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Jordan: Treating rights as rights". Namati. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b Wendy (20 August 2019). "Hadil Abdelaziz". Asia Pro Bono Conference & Access to Justice Exchange. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Justice Center for Legal Aid". Namati. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d "2023 International Women of Courage Award". U.S. Department of State. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  7. ^ AP, Manuel Balce Ceneta-staff. "Jill Biden Women". The Herald Journal. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  8. ^ "11 women, girls and women protesting Iranian morality police, honored at IWOC Awards". ABC27. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b "2023 International Women of Courage Awards". VOA. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Jordanian advocate Hadeel Abdel Aziz receives Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law". Jordan Times. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Jordanian advocate awarded Franco-German Prize for Human Rights". Arab News. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Hadeel Abdel Aziz". World Justice Project. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  13. ^ "USAID Rule of Law Program Quarterly Report: July - September, 2009" (PDF). United States Agency for International Development. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  14. ^ "JMI trains a new generation of young journalists". Jordan Media Institute. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  15. ^ Al Emam, Dana. "JBA denounces legal aid centres as 'harming the profession' - Legal aid centres say they address rising need for legal representation among fragile groups". Jordan Times. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Jordanian Parliament abolishes law that allowed rapists to avoid prosecution by marrying their victims". UN Women – Headquarters. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  17. ^ Tahhan, Zena Al. "'Historic day' as Jordanian parliament repeals rape law". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Jordan may end reviled law on rape". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  19. ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Jordan: The penalty for rape; legal penalties for failing to complete a court-ordered probation, where, and if, that is the sentence". Refworld. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Day Two - Session 7: Parallel breakout sessions – The importance of access to justice for victims of terrorism | Office of Counter-Terrorism". www.un.org. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  21. ^ a b "World Bank Selects JCLA to Provide the Nigerian Government with Technical Support | Justice Center for Legal Aid". Justice Center for Legal Aid. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  22. ^ "JORDAN RULE OF LAW AND ANTI-CORRUPTION ASSESSMENT" (PDF). United States Agency for International Development. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Middle East and North Africa CMI: Support to Open Government Reforms". World Bank. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  24. ^ Ms. Hadeel Abdel Aziz: Monitoring and Evaluation of Criminal Legal Aid Systems (10.2). 18 July 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2023 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "Systemic Vulnerability: Migrant Workers in Jordan | Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung | Palestine and Jordan". Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  26. ^ GMANews.TV, MARK JOSEPH UBALDE (3 November 2008). "'Not just RP maids but women abused in Mideast'". GMA News Online. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Africa and Middle East". The PBEye. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  28. ^ Chioma, Unini (21 August 2015). "Making justice accessible to the poor". TheNigeriaLawyer. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  29. ^ "Home". Eisenhower Fellowships. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  30. ^ admin (27 October 2015). "Hadeel Abdel Aziz - International Action Network for Gender Equity & Law". www.iangel.org. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
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