Initiative seeks to raise legal awareness

AMMAN — Prompted by people’s unawareness about their rights on basic legal matters, seven female lawyers created a Facebook page to raise people’s knowledge of their legal rights and duties.

Under the “Know Your Legal Right” initiative, the lawyers simplify legal texts under Jordanian laws and regulations in videos they post on their Facebook page “Know Your Legal Right”, the founder of the initiative, Amani Jaabari, said on Thursday.

“We post videos on our Facebook page that handle each time one of the laws. A specialised lawyer explains the law to the people in the video in a simple language,” Jaabari told The Jordan Times.

The initiative seeks to explain laws and regulations to people on all matters, she said, noting that most frequently asked questions are about laws pertaining to labour, tax, insurance, divorce, marriage and social security among other topics.

“I started the Facebook page when I discovered that there’s wide ignorance amongst people on the simplest laws and legal matters… during my time at work, I get stopped by many people every day asking for advice on very simply legal procedures,” Jaabari said.

She started up the page last year, the lawyer said, noting that there are now over 70,000 followers.

“Know Your Legal Right initiative is not-for-profit. Any lawyer who wishes to volunteer and seeks to raise the awareness of people on their rights and duties guaranteed by the laws and regulations of the country is welcome,” Jaabari said.