Amman: Minister of Social Development and Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment, Wafa Bani Mustafa, patronized the launch of the Women's Forum within the Jordan Forum for Policy Dialogue on Monday evening. The event coincided with Jordan's national occasions and included a panel discussion titled "Jordanian Women in the Vision and Aspirations of His Majesty the King," with participation from prominent political, academic, and parliamentary figures.
According to Jordan News Agency, Wafa Bani Mustafa remarked that the launch of the Women's Forum represents a significant milestone in recognizing women as equal partners in Jordan's development and modernization. She emphasized the importance of responsible dialogue in shaping national policies that enhance women's roles in decision-making. Bani Mustafa highlighted that the King's vision places women's empowerment at the forefront of the modern state, resulting in constitutional, legislative, and political reforms that have increased women's public representation and participation in successive parliaments. She also acknowledged the efforts of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah in developing human capital and empowering women and girls.
The minister stated that the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment is actively implementing programs aligned with Jordan's economic, political, and administrative modernization paths. These initiatives aim to increase women's economic participation, encourage entrepreneurship, and expand financial inclusion. She mentioned the "Institutional Stamp" for gender equity and the political school for women, which recently graduated its 15th cohort focused on local administration. Bani Mustafa also referenced the Social Development Law of 2024 as a pivotal development in regulating social work, creating job opportunities, and linking women's economic empowerment to family stability and national economic resilience.
Hamid Batayneh, President of the Jordan Forum for Policy Dialogue, expressed that the organization prioritizes women's issues, viewing them as primary partners in comprehensive reform. He noted that the newly established Women's Forum will function as a national platform for exchanging expertise, drafting initiatives, and contributing to public policy-making in alignment with royal directives.
Lina Shabib, President of the newly formed Women's Forum, stated that the forum will unite female leaders to forge partnerships with public, private, and academic institutions. The forum intends to organize specialized seminars to develop supportive policies for women's involvement in sustainable development.
The launch event concluded with a panel discussion featuring Senator Suhad Al-Jundi and Member of Parliament Fleiha Al-Khudeir, moderated by Abeer Dababneh. The panelists discussed the progress of Jordanian women's empowerment under Hashemite leadership, highlighting significant advancements in their political, economic, and social roles, and urged for continued efforts to elevate women into senior leadership positions.