Princess Basma calls for new phase to address women’s issues

HRH Princess Basma on Wednesday called for a new phase to address women’s issues in Jordan by involving young women in the process to ensure a better future for all. The Princess made the remark during an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), which she chairs. The event, attended by representative from the government and the women’s movement, also witnessed the launch of the JNCW’s third National Strategy for Women for 2012-2015. Young Jordanian women have a basic role to play in the third JNCW strategy “because they are the closest to understanding the needs of the next generation and should take the lead to follow up and evaluate the implementation of the strategy”, Princess Basma told the gathering. “We all have to acknowledge that the new realties and changing developments will affect women’s status positively and negatively,” she added. Therefore, in order to maintain the achievements made by the women pioneers of Jordan, the Princess added that “we should work with young Jordanian women to make their hopes a reality in order to face a world filled with challenges”. “This way, we hope to provide each Jordanian woman with a life free of discrimination, inequality, poverty and unemployment so women can live a life full of dignity,” Princess Basma said. Muna Mutamen, head of the technical team that drafted the strategy, said 700 men and women from various parts of the country took part in preparing the document. “The aim of the strategy is to empower Jordanian women socially, legally, politically and economically,” Mutamen said. She added that the strategy is based on several factors that include political will, the basics of the Constitution, national plans as well as Jordan’s commitment to implement international conventions. The JNCW will coordinate with concerned governmental and nongovernmental institutions and civil society entities to implement the national strategy, according to Mutamen. Several women leaders and former JNCW secretaries general were honoured during the event for their role in improving women’s status. The JNCW was established by a Cabinet decision in 1992 to improve the status of women, enhance their role in national development and strengthen their legal status.