"Honor Killings" - Additional Notes

While I was in Amman, I was briefly able to speak with Rana Husseini, a journalist for The Jordan Times, who has extensively tried to shed light on the travesty and criminal act of "honor" killings, which is based on Jordanian law, Article 340 of the Jordanian penal code, which states, "A husband or a close blood relative who kills a woman caught in a situation highly suspicious of adultery will be totally exempt from sentence." Article 98, meanwhile, guarantees a lighter sentence for male killers of female relatives who have committed an "act which is illicit in the eyes of the perpetrator."  Even if a female family member is rumored to have done something immoral (without any proof) she can be killed by a male family member. If she is seen walking with a man, or even in talking to someone of the opposite sex, her actions could be deemed immoral, and could cause shame upon the family name, thus legally giving any male family member grounds to kill her. Before I first even thought about going to Jordan for my internship, this topic angered and saddened me immensely. I was hoping to make this the main topic I would work on while in Amman, but wasn't able to during this trip.  Although I wasn't able to meet Rana in person, due to short notice and scheduling, it was good to learn more about honor killings, and what has been attempted to try to stop them, or to at least make punishments much harsher for those who commit them, in an attempt, to change behavior among male Jordanian family members who even remotely contemplate such an horrid action.  This is a topic I would like to help with in the future with the social enterprise I start and in perhaps working with Rana and those who have been working on this issue for years, as it breaks my heart. I highly recommend Rana's book, Murder in the Name of Honour, which is an unfathomable open door to a world into the lives of these girls who are murdered brutally by their own family, for a "perceived" immoral act, immoral being subject to whomever chooses to interpret it that way...This should be a world issue of concern, because as Rana explains, it even occurs in the West. Behavior can change, but harsh and extensive consequence must be present in order to bring about that change, and attempts to squash Article 340 of the penal code, have been unsuccessful so far. This topic should be of concern to every female in the world, and will take many females standing together to say "enough is enough, no more."

Day #9 & #10

Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship Presentation on Social Enterprises

As part of my work in Jordan, I wanted to make sure that I could spread knowledge on the topic of social entrepreneurship, predominately to those in the younger generation, that would be open to the concept, and engaged around its premise, more so than an older generation that isn’t always at the forefront of leading social entrepreneurs. I gave a basic overview of what social enterprises are, and why they are needed, and tried to motivate the students at Princess Sumaya University, that they can do anything, that they can start anything, and that they themselves can solely change the world, if there was one message in this presentation that I wanted to get across this was it.  One student asked me what social enterprise are you starting? The students in Jordan ask very well thought out questions, I’m continually amazed at all the presentations I’ve done here. I told them about the Gentlemen’s Posse, and they were intrigued to say the least. I could see immediate intrigue on all of their faces though, the thought of a social enterprise that is involved in the rescue of little girls from trafficking, must have been a lot to comprehend. This is the sentiment that I receive, who I tell about the social enterprise, so on the long plane trip home, I began to analyze this response in my mind. Even the students told me, “You must be very careful when you do the rescues, and how will you protect yourself?”  This touched me, that students would be so considerate and concerned about someone who came to speak to them.

I recently read a quote by Steve Jobs, and I guess, I identified more than most people with the quote, that basically states, “watch out for the misfits, the rebels, the people who don’t put up with the status quo..” Perhaps its because I consider that being a rebel for a moral cause, is the utmost dedication you can do with your life and that one should do with their life. To live for a cause greater than yourself, without regard to the consequences. My mother was a private investigator at the age of 18, my family is all formally Navy and Air Force, and I learned how to shoot a gun at the age of 18. When I was a little girl, and my mother would take me to a toy store, I didn’t run to the Barbie or doll section, I immediately jetted for the guns and the GI Joes, much to the mortification of my motherJ, so thinking beyond ourselves to do something greater, for the greater good, and for humanity, is what is required by us. Going to Jordan, perhaps has made me see that the backbone that I’ve been given to start a social enterprise around this issue, which is much needed, is a gift from God, because I firmly believe in the plan that He has for each of us, and that He will protect His children, especially his girls, so there should be no fear, precaution yes, but fear to do what is needed in helping little girls around the world, no.  This isn’t a decision, it’s a must. That’s the problem that I don’t think people realize, while they are enjoying their everyday business, going to school, going to work, there are little girls around the world, as young as age 6, who are having to perform sexual acts for men around the world! Does this not disgust anyone to the core of their being I continually thought during my time in Jordan. How can anyone go about their daily routine, knowing this? I know I can’t. Its always on my mind, and from what I see unfortunately, it will be up to the big girls of the world, to help rescue and support financially the rescue of the little girls around the world. I don’t see too many men being sick to their stomach about this, in fact, they are the customers that have made this situation as bad as it is, creating a demand for the trafficking of little girls across the world, and frankly, this angers me to the core. So I go with my original premise, as I did with starting GAP, to gather the girls of the world, to do something collectively about this problem. My conversations with people worldwide, have expressed great concern, even from friends who are in the fight themselves, and has even made me to believe that there is greater danger in this arena, than I even thought, and even more connections between the mob, organized crime, money laundering through banks, and how it is all tied to human trafficking. But the people of the world, especially the big girls, must stand up and say enough is enough, we won’t tolerate the abuse of children by men and traffickers anymore, and do whatever it takes to put them out of business. I believe more strongly then ever, that this must be my mission, and to fulfill it through the social enterprise. To inspire young people and the youth, we must show them that they have to have a backbone, to be able to persevere with the passion that lives inside of them, if we go to our graves, without every releasing what was inside of us, I believe this is the greatest travesty of all.  Many of the students at Princess Sumaya University came up to me and told me their ideas for a social business, and one male student mentioned to me what he was doing to help orphans in Jordan, and they inspired me to do better, to help more people, to have an untainted view once again that there is good in humanity.