Doha: Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa reaffirmed Jordan's "firm" commitment to supporting the rights of persons with disabilities and promoting comprehensive social and economic inclusion. The minister made the remarks Thursday at the opening ceremony of the third edition of the "Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities" initiative and the Arab Productive Families Exhibition, as part of the World Summit for Social Development in Doha.
According to Jordan News Agency, the event was organized by the Arab League in cooperation with the Union of Arab Chambers and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce. Highlighting the Kingdom's inclusive development approach, Bani Mustafa emphasized that enhancing independence and inclusion for persons with disabilities and empowering productive families are key pillars for building a "fair, sustainable, and inclusive" future.
Under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, she stated Jordan has established a national model for social development based on empowerment and participation. The Kingdom was among the first countries to sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and has integrated its principles into national legislation and policies, she pointed out.
Bani Mustafa elaborated that "full" inclusion is achieved through policy and awareness, noting that the Ministry of Social Development, in partnership with the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, launched a model for transitioning from institutional care to inclusive community-based services, one of the region's leading applied frameworks.
She remarked that the "Independent Living" initiative embodies the right to independence and opens "true" opportunities for dignified living and participation for persons with disabilities. Additionally, she highlighted Jordan's focus on building a "productive" social economy that links social protection with economic empowerment, with the exhibition serving as an Arab platform for social and economic integration.
On the sidelines of the summit, Bani Mustafa participated in a side event themed "Towards Inclusive Social Integration: Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities and Poverty Eradication," organized by the League of Arab States. This event aimed to highlight efforts to promote inclusion and enable persons with disabilities to live independently.
The minister emphasized that Jordan's "strong" commitment to disability rights is rooted in the Constitution and reflected in Law No. 20 of 2017 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which forms the foundation of national policies in this field. In line with its international commitments, she noted Jordan co-hosted the Third Global Disability Summit with Germany and issued the Amman-Berlin Declaration on Global Disability Inclusion, a significant document promoting a human rights-based approach to development and humanitarian action.
Through this declaration, Jordan reaffirms its "unwavering" commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities. Two Jordanian family projects, one in silver crafting and another in information technology, participated in the Arab Productive Families Exhibition held alongside the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025.