Queen Noor of Jordan2013-05-20T03:23:44-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=her-majesty-queen-noorCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Queen Noor of JordanGood old fashioned elbow grease.The Arab Woman You Don't Seetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8327182011-03-08T00:00:00-05:002011-05-25T18:35:25-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/joined with men in peaceful protest, braving beatings, rubber bullets, and worse. In Egypt, considered the birthplace of Arab feminism in the 1920s, an estimated quarter of the million protesters at the height of the demonstration were female. In all the pictures from the protest, none was as powerful as that of the woman standing face to face with an Egyptian soldier in a pose of utmost defiance. One young female protester stated, "There are no differences between men and women here. We are all one hand." In more conservative cultures such as Bahrain and Yemen, fewer women have demonstrated, but for that very reason their presence is perhaps even more significant.
This should come as no surprise. Women are consummate peacemakers, and civil protest has always been one of their most powerful tools of expression.
I have been privileged to work with numerous networks of courageous women who have suffered the worst consequences of war, conflict and discrimination; in Jordan and Palestine, in Israel, in Colombia, in Central Asia, in Africa and the Balkans, raising their voices and joining forces for change.
Many countries that are struggling to recover from harrowing civil war, including Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Chile, Bosnia, and Liberia, have turned to women leaders for stability, security and peace. After the genocide of 1994 in Rwanda, Hutu and Tutsi women joined together to support each other and the war's victims and to lead the search for truth and reconciliation as official members of government.
In Liberia, I have witnessed the inspiring force of the market women who, throughout 16 years of civil war, sustained their families, saved lives and kept food supplies flowing while they marched and successfully negotiated for peace and, then ensured the election of Africa's first woman president.
And, in the former Yugoslavia, the site of the worst carnage in Europe since World War II, I have sat and wept with Bosnian, Serb and Croatian women as they struggled to come to terms with the deaths of their husbands, sons and fathers -- killed, in some cases, by the husbands or sons of women sitting across the table.
Why such compassion to the widows of their enemies? As one woman put it simply, "We are all mothers." They came to our meetings to search for threads of human connection amidst the chaos of conflict.
Today, women raising their voices in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen are not all mothers, but they are also daughters, wives, sisters. They are fighting for their families, but they are also fighting for themselves; and in Palestine, the women of the occupied territories are fighting for the freedom to be included in the greater Palestinian struggle.
Heartening though this may be, as revolution gives way to realpolitik, women's rights are all too often the first things to be compromised on and bartered away. For example, although these protests present an unprecedented opportunity for women, some of the results are less than encouraging. In Egypt, while the protests themselves were marked by a sense of unity, it did not take long for sexual harassment to reassert itself. And women returned to protest when the Supreme Council for the Armed forces, designating a committee to amend the country's constitution, neglected to appoint a single woman.
Women's new empowerment will not be suppressed easily, however. So far, these have not been the traditional stories about women -- especially Muslim women -- that tend to show up on the news. Many do not imagine Arab and Muslim women have much in common with their counterparts in the West because of the selective, damaging and stereotypical images that the media commonly present. When I married King Hussein in 1978, reporters were constantly asking me how a progressive, educated, American woman could go live in such a repressive culture. Those reporters did not know the Arab women I did -- the doctors, lawyers, professors and entrepreneurs -- many of whom became friends and advisers as I set my priorities for public service. The dedication and ambition of the increasing numbers of such women gives great cause for optimism about their prospects for shaping the future of the region. Providing these women with opportunities for partnering with international institutions and networks can enhance that transformative potential both within their own societies and for the benefit of our larger world.
Too many in the Western world still equate the images and soundbites describing women under Taliban and restrictive rule in other countries with the teachings of our faith and conditions throughout the Muslim world. Many worry that greater democracy in the region will give reign to more restrictive interpretations of Islam and a rollback of women's rights. I think, however, that there is reason for hope for women within our faith itself.
Most westerners -- and even some in our region -- do not recognize that women were granted political, economic, legal and social rights by Islam in the 7th century -- rights then unheard of in the West; rights that women were still struggling for in the 20th century in so many parts of the world -- such as the equal right to education, to own and inherit property, to conduct business, to participate in decision making, to be elected to office and not be coerced into marriage. The oppression of women in parts of the Muslim world is not because of Islam, but contrary to it.
Male and female equality is enshrined in numerous places in Islamic scripture, such as the Quranic verse: "I waste not the labor of any that labors among you, be you male or female -- the one of you is as the other." And from the later teachings: "For the white to lord it over the black, the Arab over the non-Arab, the rich over the poor, the strong over the weak or men over women is out of place and wrong." The true application of fundamental Islamic principles can actually empower women to play a crucial role in the process of peaceful change.
As popular demands progress to political and social transition in the MENA region, it is of critical importance that the women who have played such an important role not be relegated to secondary status yet again. They must not simply be forced to exchange an old for a new set of oppressions. Any reforms must continue the progress toward full human rights for women that our region so desperately needs, not only for the women's sake. It is vital that MENA countries more urgently recognize that the status of women is the key determinant to the development of their societies. In turn, the international community can play a critical role in helping to build bridges that can further integrate women both locally and globally.
It is fitting that in Egypt, where Arab feminists first made their voices heard, women have played such an integral role, and have set something of a precedent, by courageously fighting for their unequivocal rights.
On this anniversary of International Women's Day, almost a century since those Arab feminists raised their voices, it is time for women everywhere to take their proper place beside men as equal parents of new societies born in democracy and justice. ]]>Ramadan Lessons for All of Humanitytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6961132010-08-26T10:22:27-04:002011-05-25T17:30:22-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/Editor's Note: Huffington Post Religion has launched a scripture commentary/reflection series, which will bring together leading voices from different religious traditions to offer their wisdom on selected religious texts. We are pleased to announce a series of reflections for the Holy Month of Ramadan featuring posts by HM Queen Noor, Dalia Mogahed, Eboo Patel, Kabir Helminski, and Rami Nashashibi. They will all be reflecting on a passage from the Qur'an, Sura 2:177, which appears below. Last month we featured Christian reflections on the Gospel by Rev. Jim Wallis, Dr. Serene Jones, Dr. Emilie Townes, Sister Joan Chittister, and Rev. James Martin, S.J. Coming in September we will feature Jewish commentaries for the High Holidays and in October Hindu commentary for Diwali. We hope all readers, Muslim and non-Muslim, will gain wisdom from the insights of our writers on the Holy Qur'an:
True piety does not consist in turning your faces towards the east or the west -- but truly pious is he who believes in God, and the Last Day; and the angels, and revelation, and the prophets; and spends his substance -- however much he himself may cherish -- it -- upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and the beggars, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage; and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues; and [truly pious are] they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril: it is they that have proved themselves true, and it is they, they who are conscious of God. (2:177 [Asad])
In a sense this beautiful verse is its own commentary, and for a Muslim these exhortations are among the most familiar commandments in their religious life. It is one of those verses where several strands of the Quran's teachings interlace. Each phrase, taken alone, repeats an idea that is found throughout Islam's sacred text, and taken together they form a kind of summary of the teachings of Islam.
It is from passages such as this one that Muslims find their main articles of faith: belief in the one God, the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter, the existence of the angels, revelation in the form of sacred books, and the messengers and prophets who have borne that revelation to humanity from Adam until the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon them all.
Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic year. We observe it this year against a backdrop of intensifying global human suffering, caused by economic hardship, human rights abuses, military conflict and terrorism, and the rapidly multiplying disastrous consequences of climate change. Muslims have an opportunity to use the days of this month as God intended: to reflect on our own humanity and our collective duty towards our fellow human beings. True religion isn't built of the manifestations of piety through prayer -- turning faces towards the east or west -- but requires good deeds and action that manifest and express the essential values of our faith.
Unwavering faith is the foremost pillar of a Muslim's religion. While Muslims will refrain from drink and food from sunup till sundown for a whole month and will attend prayers at mosques around the world, God's judgment will rely heavily on their ability to share their fortune, look after their relatives, the orphans, the poor, travelers and beggars and ensure freedoms for "human beings in bondage." Philanthropy in the financial sense will not be the only measure, either, but also generosity of spirit in the face of hardship.
This dedication and sensitivity to the welfare of other human beings -- which, as we see from this verse, is required by God of humans as testament to their faith -- inspired the life of my late husband King Hussein of Jordan, who for almost five decades tirelessly pursued human security and social equity not only for Jordanians but all Arabs, Muslims and others around the world. This objective has now become the mission of the King Hussein Foundation, founded in his memory in 1999 to give enduring life to his humanitarian vision and legacy.
Islam is believed by Muslims to be the last of the monotheistic religions with messages not only for its own followers and those of the Abrahamic faiths but also for all humanity. And while this verse clearly reminds Muslims of their priorities ahead in the holy month of Ramadan, I believe that these priorities apply to all individuals pursuing peaceful coexistence, social equity, the protection of human rights and the ethics and values essential to a healthy, cohesive society. My hope is that we all find ways to contribute to the peace and security of our communities and larger world by reaching out to those in need and building bridges of understanding based on our common values.
Ramadan Kareem to you all.]]>Bid Farewell to Nuclear Armstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.5353732010-04-13T09:37:17-04:002011-05-25T16:10:21-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/
I believe that if governments do not act now by beginning to eliminate all remaining nuclear weapons, we will witness in our lifetimes the detonation of a device by a state or terrorist group. To get governments to act, everyone needs to get involved and we need to bring this issue to the top of the political agenda.
As a mother of and a founding leader of the Global Zero movement, I feel very deeply that the only way to safeguard our future is through the phased elimination of all nuclear weapons. The naysayers are wrong; it is not too late to put the nuclear genie back in its bottle, where it belongs. The Global Zero movement, which includes 200 former heads of state, foreign and defense ministers, national security advisers, top military commanders and faith leaders, has put together a compelling a plan to achieve this urgent global imperative.
The Global Zero movement does not just comprise these leaders though. It includes hundreds of thousands of citizens and activists and a burgeoning group of organizations hailing from every country in the world. The movement is growing fast across all continents.
Young people have taken the lead, with 50 Global Zero chapters already launched on college campuses worldwide. As just one illustration, this week a group of 12 committed young people will launch a road tour, traveling the breadth of the USA organizing community-based screenings of Countdown to Zero, a new film coming out in July which powerfully documents the peril we find ourselves in. There is a palpable sense of momentum behind our movement.
Our student leaders, along with partner organizations including Avaaz, MoveOn, Physicians for Social Responsibility, the New Evangelical Partnership, Vote Vets, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and others, have launched a worldwide drive to collect signatures for our Global Zero petition for the elimination of nuclear weapons -- so far, more than 350,000 people from every country in the world have signed. We are delivering this petition to world leaders at the Nuclear Security Summit today.
History has shown us that when a consensus emerges on a vital questions, as is happening now on nuclear weapons, we can together affect major change. We must remember this because as President Obama passionately advocated this time last year: "...fatalism is a deadly adversary. For if we believe that the spread of nuclear weapons is inevitable, then we are admitting to ourselves that the use of nuclear weapons is inevitable..." This is a particularly poignant thought when I think of it in the context of my home region -- the Middle East - one of the dangerous corners of the world.
Good sense must lead us to action as there is nothing to recommend and everything to fear from the continued existence of weapons grade nuclear material of which there is currently an amount sufficient for upwards of 200,000 bombs. One does not require a defense expert to figure that some of this material will undoubtedly go astray at some point to end up in the hands of individuals who harbor nihilistic plans.
As South Africa showed the world in 1991 when they dismantled their nuclear program, it is possible to bid farewell to these ghastly nuclear arms. A very great many of them exist and they are capable of permanently benighting our wonderful planet and all its creatures.
There is still time to change direction and set our course to global zero; but the clock is ticking fast. The international community banned biological and chemical weapons some time ago. There is nothing holding us back from moving in earnest towards the same outcome with nuclear weapons. They belong in humanity's past; not its future. I entreat all who read this posting to sign the petition and join the Global Zero movement at globalzero.org. ]]>Obama's Opportunity to Lead a Landmine-Free Worldtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.3790912009-12-03T15:46:15-05:002011-05-25T14:50:26-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/
Today there are millions of mines buried in over 80 countries, and over 160 million more stored in arsenals waiting to go in the ground. These indiscriminate devices lay dormant until detonated by something living -- a child walking to school, a farmer or grazing livestock. One victim at a time, these 'weapons of mass destruction in slow motion' have killed in total more people than nuclear, chemical and biological weapons combined. If they don't cause immediate death, they maim and blind their victims.
Perhaps cruelest of all, these hidden killers never acknowledge peace. Landmines continue to inflict health, economic and environmental damage long after conflicts end, treaties are signed, and soldiers go home.
For over thirty years, I have lived in the landmine heartland of the world. I have advocated with governments and visited with hundreds of wounded survivors in the Middle East, Central Asia and Latin America, from Cambodia and Vietnam to Pakistan, Bosnia and Colombia. In my work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Survivor Corps, I have personally witnessed the heartbreaking consequences for those striving to overcome the damage wrought on their bodies, their lives and their families.
Ten years ago today the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force, mandating a complete ban of the weapon, the destruction of stockpiles, clearing of minefields, and assistance to the victims. Most of the world -- 156 nations -- have signed. Over 44 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed, and casualty rates have plunged from roughly 25,000 to 5,000 per year. All NATO allies have abandoned this antiquated weapon, while the United States stands outside the treaty with countries such as Cuba, Pakistan, China, North Korea and Iran.
Why is the United States sitting on the sidelines clinging to this outdated weapon? Because the Pentagon says it might need to use them someday, even though U.S. forces haven't deployed mines in nearly twenty years. But even Iraq and Afghanistan have banned the use of landmines. Since the Mine Ban Treaty prohibits all its members from aiding and abetting the transfer or use of mines, the United States can't even discuss plans for their use with coalition allies, let alone with Baghdad or Kabul.
The greater irony is that mines do not even do the job. An International Red Cross-Red Crescent study endorsed by 50 high ranking military figures from 20 countries found that landmines played no significant role in the outcome of 26 conflicts examined. The appalling suffering and waste caused by landmines far outweigh their military utility.
In Jordan, my late husband King Hussein was the first Mideast leader to recognize that landmines do not provide security, but instead threaten innocent civilians and hinder development. In 1993 he called for a mine-free Jordan Valley by 2000. Sadly, he did not live to see this goal realized, but we successfully led Jordan to sign the Mine Ban Treaty in 1998 and completed the destruction of our stockpile of over 92,000 antipersonnel mines in 2003.
To its credit, the United States is the leading funder of mine clearance globally, spending nearly a billion dollars in over 47 countries, but it hasn't managed to destroy its own stash. Why not acknowledge that these tiny cheap explosives do not win wars? Technology has also advanced beyond minefields to protect borders or bases.
An Obama administration that seeks to reassert U.S. leadership on issues of humanitarian law and arms control should seize this opportunity to sign the Mine Ban Treaty and end the use of these insidious weapons for good. The world is waiting for decisive leadership from Washington.
The fight against landmines is an integral part of the fight for peace worldwide. War-torn societies can never be rebuilt if people continue to fear for their lives with every step they take. Just as President Woodrow Wilson, another Nobel laureate, decided to forever ban the use of poison gas in 1925, perhaps President Obama, as he heads to Oslo to accept his Nobel Prize for Peace, will commit the U.S. to join the global movement to ban landmines. I can think of no greater gift to future generations.
Her Majesty Queen Noor is an advisor to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and patron of Survivor Corps, helping war victims rebuild their lives.]]>The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weaponstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.3008892009-09-26T13:38:31-04:002011-05-25T14:10:19-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/
In addressing the Security Council members, President Obama declared: "The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons."
Building on the extraordinary leadership of Presidents Obama and Medvedev, who in April committed to work together to eliminate all nuclear weapons, this resolution is a significant step toward an international consensus on this goal and a stirring moment for so many who have worked on this issue for so long. World leaders are recognizing that whatever stability nuclear arsenals may have provided during the Cold War is now outweighed by the growing risks of proliferation and nuclear terrorism, and the only way to eliminate the nuclear threat is to eliminate all nuclear weapons. They have resolved to work together in the interests of our common security to achieve this goal.
As a leader of Global Zero -- an international movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons, as a citizen of one of the most dangerous regions in the world, and as a deeply concerned parent, I believe that yesterday's action by the Security Council comes at a critical moment as the world approaches a nuclear tipping point when nuclear weapons spread beyond the capacity of any effort to rein them in. This resolution helps to set the course toward the only responsible path -- the path to global zero.
To help turn this vision into a practical goal, Global Zero has developed a step-by-step four-phased plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons over 20 years. Since the Cold War ended 20 years ago, the total number of nuclear weapons worldwide has been reduced by nearly 40,000 -- from approximately 60,000 to the 23,000 in existence today. Could we not aim over the next 20 years to eliminate the remaining 23,000 warheads and leave to our children and grandchildren a world without nuclear weapons?
What happened yesterday at the Security Council was an historic step -- but we still have a long way to go. Governments must take action, beginning with deep bilateral reductions in U.S. and Russian arsenals -- following the current negotiations on the START replacement accord -- as well as serious multilateral discussions about the phased elimination of all nuclear weapons, the establishment of a comprehensive verification and enforcement system, and strengthened safeguards on the civilian nuclear fuel cycle.
And the message to every country must be clear: the international community is resolved to join together in the interests of our common security to eliminate all nuclear weapons worldwide, and all nations must join in this pursuit with no exception.
Eliminating all nuclear weapons will require people from around the world to get involved. In fact, last night college students launched "Global Zero" chapters on dozens of campuses- a trend I hope we will see develop in every nuclear state. To join me and the citizens from every country around the world who are already part of this movement, go to globalzero.org and sign the declaration.
If yesterday's resolution is not followed up by action in the months and years ahead, it will fade into the history books as words on a piece of paper and nothing more. If, on the other hand, leaders and citizens seize this historic moment and act with determination and resolve, perhaps our children and grandchildren will look back on yesterday as the beginning of the end of nuclear weapons.
]]>Honoring Two Great Humanitarianstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.2805302009-09-09T11:21:46-04:002011-11-17T09:02:45-05:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/
Senator Edward Kennedy and Ken Bacon, President of Refugees International and former Pentagon spokesman, both died of cancer within weeks of each other. The disease silenced the voices of two men who devoted their lives to a more peaceful and just world and to assisting those people who have been devastated by war, poverty and oppression.
Senator Kennedy is known as a champion for quality health care, better conditions for working families, and upholding women's rights in the United States. However, he also understood that he had a responsibility to work on behalf of "our shared humanity" for people around the world. Senator Kennedy drafted and passed the Refugee Act of 1980 to increase U.S. assistance for refugees and establish the U.S. resettlement program. He was active in efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland and to end apartheid in South Africa. He also believed in strengthening ties with the Muslim world after September 11th and established a scholarship program for Muslim students to live with families and study in the U.S.
More recently, Senator Kennedy worked to support the millions of vulnerable Iraqis forced from their homes by civil conflict. This is an humanitarian tragedy I am all too familiar with from my work with Refugees International and especially through programs of the NGO I founded after my husband's death, the King Hussein Foundation which provides critical services to tens of thousands of displaced Iraqis as well as to the long-standing population of Palestinian refugees in Jordan. Since the 2003 war, more than half a million Iraqis have sought refuge in Jordan where they have struggled to address their families' most basic needs and to cling to hope for the future.
Senator Kennedy was moved by the injustice these people faced. He held hearings, spoke out and supported legislation to bring attention to the crisis, including the first legislation to help the U.S. honor its debt to Iraqis who had worked with Americans in their country.
Like Senator Kennedy, Ken Bacon also believed that we all have a responsibility to help those less fortunate. When he was spokesman at the Defense Department, Ken witnessed first-hand the human consequences of the wars in the Balkans. He became convinced that more people were needed to stop human rights abuses that led to conflict and large-scale displacement. He became President of Refugees International in 2001 and under his leadership, the organization doubled in size and increased its influence.
For those who knew Ken, the fact that he didn't move on to a more lucrative career is no surprise. Ken's kindness and generosity spread well beyond his close family and friends. He was as comfortable speaking with heads of state in the world's capital cities as he was meeting in muddy camps with refugees who had lost everything.
As a member of Refugees International's board of directors, I watched with admiration as Ken relentlessly campaigned for more assistance for refugees and displaced people in places like Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cambodia.
I traveled to Pakistan for RI in 2001 to assess the status of Afghan refugees fleeing the war, and together this spring Ken and I issued a joint appeal for increased assistance to the problem of Pakistanis displaced by conflict in the Swat Valley.
In 2006, Ken led Refugees International to investigate the plight of Iraqi refugees at a time when few people -- other than perhaps Senator Kennedy -- were willing to acknowledge or speak out about this matter. Overall, the efforts by people like Ken and Senator Kennedy resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in support for displaced Iraqis throughout the Middle East and in far greater numbers of Iraqis being allowed to resettle in the U.S.
In March, Ken traveled to Iraq to meet with displaced Iraqis first-hand and identify what was needed to help them return home. He listened to their stories of heartbreak and hope. Just days after he returned to the U.S., as he was preparing to share his findings with top government officials, a tumor was found in his brain. Yet, even that didn't stop him from doing what he could to help the people he had met in Iraq -- one week after his brain surgery, he testified to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that assistance, property restitution, and the provision of basic services were essential for Iraqis to return home.
In the final months of his life, Ken turned his passion to the threat of climate displacement. And in typical Ken fashion, just a few weeks prior to his death, he and his wife Darcy provided a generous donation to establish the Ken and Darcy Bacon Center for the Study of Climate Displacement.
Ken frequently said, "A world without displacement is a world that is more secure, more peaceful and more prosperous." This is the world that he and Senator Kennedy believed in.
It is a world that I believe in as well, and will continue working to achieve, even as I miss two extraordinary friends, colleagues and humanitarian pillars of our work for peace and security.
Please join me in honoring their lives by carrying their vision forward.]]>Honoring World Refugee Daytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.2183022009-06-19T18:40:53-04:002011-05-25T13:30:21-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/
I have lived and worked with the nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees and now nearly 5 million displaced Iraqis, many from each group now making their homes in Jordan. I have also worked with displaced people from Afghanistan, Colombia, Somalia, and those seeking safe haven during the first Gulf War. I have witnessed first-hand the anguish of those uprooted from their homes -- people who have had their lives threatened, homes bombed, and family members kidnapped or murdered.
The global displacement crisis is both a humanitarian and a security issue. History shows that mass migrations pose a serious threat to regional stability, as we have seen in Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan and West Africa. The Middle East is particularly vulnerable as ongoing tensions are further strained by such large scale displacement.
Yet, I have also seen that refugees are a tremendous inspiration. Supporting these vulnerable people not only reduces their suffering, but also brings peace to troubled regions. Despite the pain and trauma they have experienced, refugees and displaced people hold on to the hope that they can someday return home and rebuild their lives. Like all of us, they want to be able to contribute to society, earn incomes, and send their children to school. An investment in refugees is an investment in whole communities and a clear way to promote peace and prosperity.
Over the past few weeks, conflict between the Pakistani government and militants has made world headlines as some two million people have been forced to flee. In December 2001, I traveled to Pakistan with Refugees International and saw refugees pouring over the border from Afghanistan. Today, Pakistanis who seek protection from the current violence have had no alternative but to live in some of the very same camps built for Afghan refugees. Many more are living with families in small, over-crowded homes, struggling to access emergency aid.
Refugees International just returned from Pakistan again this week, where staff members spoke directly with displaced people, aid workers and government officials to ensure that the needs of displaced Pakistanis are not ignored. RI is now steering through the corridors of power providing the most credible information to policy makers on how to resolve this humanitarian crisis.
The world simply must respond more effectively to this crisis than it has to date. The U.S. has been generous, but other governments are lagging and the UN and private agencies are struggling to meet the massive needs. I have taken the initiative to write a letter to the Foreign Ministers of leading Arab and Islamic governments urging them to respond to the need for humanitarian aid to displaced Pakistanis.
Yet, there are also those refugees whose suffering is no longer making frequent headlines. According to the UN, there could be as many as 4.8 million displaced Iraqis, more than half inside Iraq and the rest scattered throughout the region. Many remain reluctant to return home due to continued violence, the creation of ethnically cleansed neighborhoods, and poor government services. Others have tried to return, but found their homes occupied or destroyed.
While we wait for the situation in Iraq to improve, we must continue to help those who cannot go home. We in Jordan have committed ourselves to providing aid and support to this population. The Noor Al Hussein Foundation, which I chair, is providing health care, rehabilitation services, and psycho-social counseling to thousands of Iraqis in Jordan through our Institute for Family Health. We have also expanded the Foundation's services to provide training to Iraqi youth in home business management and livelihood skills. This encourages entrepreneurship and strengthens their potential to earn incomes. These efforts are a small contribution to addressing the challenges these Iraqi families face while waiting to return home, but there is much yet to be done.
Refugees International continues to lead the call to support Iraqi refugees, as well as millions more displaced people fleeing the world's worst crises. The organization's 30 years of experience has contributed to peace and stability and improved the lives of displaced people in countries like Jordan, Iraq and Pakistan. On World Refugee Day, we should reflect on those we have helped. But we must also focus our gaze on how much more is needed to end the vicious cycle of violence and intolerance, and support a more peaceful and prosperous world.
Her Majesty Queen Noor has been a member of Refugees International's Board of Directors since 2001.]]>Pakistan's Refugee Crisistag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.2120002009-06-05T16:40:15-04:002011-05-25T13:25:21-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/
One challenge to the world's capacity to care for its citizens is taking place right now in Pakistan, where the conflict between the government and militants in the northwest has forced almost three million people from their homes. According to the UN Refugee Agency, this is the most rapid large-scale displacement the world has witnessed since the movement into the Congo after the Rwandan genocide.
More than 80 percent of the displaced are staying with host families, posing a tremendous burden to already poor people, and making it difficult for humanitarian agencies to reach the most vulnerable. While food needs are largely being met, there are severe shortages of shelter, medicine, clean water, and sanitation facilities.
Reports from relief workers in daily contact with the displaced suggest that they are discouraged by the meager response to their plight so far. A crisis of such proportion has the potential to create a mass of people who, out of despair and hopelessness, might become part of another vicious cycle of frustration and violence. The risk to Pakistan's overall stability is very real, and this ultimately poses risks to the United States and its interests in the region as well.
As someone deeply committed to refugee causes for many years, in the Middle East and beyond, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Refugees International, my plea is that the world respond more effectively to this crisis than it has to date. The most immediate need for action is simple -- for funding to be made available to agencies that can deliver assistance directly to the refugees at the village level. The U.S. has been generous -- with a new commitment of $200 million just announced by Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, on top of the previous commitment of $110 million. But other donor governments are lagging, and the UN and private agencies are short of funds while the crisis continues to grow.
The best way for the public to be involved is to donate funds to credible humanitarian agencies with a track record of working in Pakistan. A list of agencies responding to the crisis may be found at www.interaction.org.]]>Countdown to Zerotag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1919242009-04-27T16:49:22-04:002011-05-25T13:15:26-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/
Three days later in Prague, President Obama reinforced his commitment to leading an international effort to eliminate all nuclear weapons and declaring his intention to "seek to include all nuclear weapons states in this endeavor." The North Korean missile launch just hours before President Obama's speech underscored the urgency for all the nuclear powers to commit to this effort.
President Obama called the spread of nuclear weapons the "gravest threat to humanity." Today, nine countries have more than 23,000 nuclear weapons. Terrorist groups have been trying to buy, build, or steal nuclear weapons, and in the last two decades, there have been at least 25 instances of nuclear explosive materials being lost or stolen. If terrorists were to finally get their hands on a bomb and explode it in a major city, hundreds of thousands of people would die instantly.
Whatever stabilizing impact nuclear weapons may have had during the US-Soviet Cold War confrontation, any residual benefits of these arsenals are overshadowed today by the growing risks of proliferation and terrorism.
I, and all of the 100-plus leaders of Global Zero, are thrilled that Presidents Obama and Medvedev are demonstrating bold and historic leadership on this agenda, and taking an approach that is fully in line with the plan we presented at the launch of Global Zero in December 2008.
Global Zero is an international, non-partisan initiative formed in response to the growing threats of proliferation and nuclear terrorism, dedicated to achieving a binding, verifiable agreement to eliminate all nuclear weapons. The group includes many who have worked at senior levels with issues of national security such as former heads of state, former foreign ministers, former defense ministers, former national security advisors, and nineteen former top military.
At our December launch, we presented a step-by-step plan for the phased, verified elimination of nuclear weapons, calling for initial deep reductions to the U.S. and Russian arsenals -- which account for 96 percent of the world's nuclear weapons -- to be followed by multi-lateral negotiations among all nuclear weapons states for an agreement to eliminate all nuclear weapons -- global zero.
Now, following on the historic Obama-Medvedev announcement, we are urging the leaders of the other nuclear weapons countries to commit to supporting this effort and participating in multi-lateral negotiations on an agreement for global zero.
The good news is that broad consensus already exists for a nuclear free world. The United States and Russia are among 189 countries that have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Seven nuclear weapons-free zones currently encompass half the world's landmass. And in a recent Global Zero poll of 21 nuclear and non-nuclear countries, more than three-quarters of citizens polled favor the total elimination of all nuclear weapons.
I am tremendously encouraged that there is unanimous support in the Middle East for the creation of a regional weapons of mass destruction-free zone, although differences exist on its timing. All Arab countries have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and over the past 30 years have pursued intensive diplomatic efforts to bring Israel into the treaty.
Getting to global zero will be one of the greatest political challenges of our time. We can only do it if citizens get involved and make sure political leaders know where they stand. Thousands of citizens from more than 100 countries have signed the Global Zero declaration and joined the campaign. I encourage everyone to go to globalzero.org to stay informed and get involved.
As long as these weapons exist, they will continue to spread. The only solution to the threats of proliferation and nuclear terrorism is global zero. This will not happen overnight, nor unilaterally. It will require the phased and verified elimination of all nations' nuclear arsenals. It is urgent to begin now. ]]>Hillary Clinton -- A Champion for Human Securitytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2008:/theblog//3.1476992008-12-04T08:05:01-05:002011-05-25T12:55:17-04:00Queen Noor of Jordanhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/
I observed first hand her commitment to peace and justice during the presidency of Bill Clinton, when Jordan's King Hussein, my late husband, and I worked closely with the Clintons in an attempt to achieve a Middle East peace. When they take office next year, I know that President-elect Obama and she quickly will begin looking for ways to bring security to Israel and justice to Palestinians, including four to six million Palestinian refugees.
In the Senate, Mrs. Clinton has worked hard to protect other displaced populations, including those from Iraq and Darfur. Just two weeks ago, I was part of a delegation from Refugees International that met with Sen. Clinton to discuss the need for a comprehensive plan to deal with five million displaced Iraqis, one fifth of the country's population. Nearly two million of the displaced Iraqis have sought refuge in Syria and Jordan, while the rest have fled their homes and violence within Iraq.
I know the utter despair and hopelessness of both Palestinian and Iraqi refugee families, having lived and worked with both communities over the past 30 years through the Noor al Hussein Foundation and other Jordanian institutions.
Sen. Clinton has introduced legislation to help displaced Iraqis. In the Obama administration she and her colleagues will have to come up with a comprehensive plan to help Iraqis return to a safe and secure Iraq as U.S. troops withdraw. This will be a challenge, but she understands that displaced Iraqis threaten the stability of Iraq, as well as the stability of the region, and potentially beyond.
During the campaign both Sen Clinton and President-elect Obama called for more aggressive U.S. action, including the possible use of force, to stop the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Their agreement on this point could open an opportunity for a diplomatic push to bring peace to Darfur, something the government of Sudan says it wants but has done little to promote. Any successful peace conference will be complex, requiring full participation by the government of Sudan, rebel movements, Sudanese civil society organizations, neighboring countries and economic stake holders, such as China. While the prospect of success is small, the cost of failure would be extremely high, particularly for the government of Sudan and the people of Darfur.
As Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton will face many challenges, but I know from personal experience that she is up to them all. ]]>