Amman: HRH Princess Basma bint Talal, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Goodwill Ambassador, emphasized the significance of Jordan's 50-year partnership with the UNFPA during a commemorative event co-hosted with the Higher Population Council (HPC). Princess Basma highlighted UNFPA's crucial role in enhancing access to essential services and improving lives in Jordan.
According to Jordan News Agency, Princess Basma urged the international community to urgently focus on reproductive healthcare and the protection of women and girls in conflict zones, amid the global displacement crisis. In her address, she reflected on her journey as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador since 2001, expressing deep commitment to the mission. She praised the UNFPA's global efforts to safeguard health, dignity, and human rights, while celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Jordan-UNFPA partnership, which has had a direct impact on saving lives and providing essential services.
Princess Basma drew attention to the severe impact of conflict on reproductive health services, using Gaza as an example of a devastated health system. Under such conditions, maternal mortality rates have surged, and women endure significant psychological trauma. She also highlighted the crisis of forced displacement, with over 117 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, nearly half of whom are women and girls. This displacement has heightened risks of gender-based violence and strained protection systems.
To address these crises, UNFPA seeks US$1 billion for its 2026 Humanitarian Appeal, aiming to provide life-saving reproductive health care to nearly 34 million women and girls. Despite this appeal, Princess Basma pointed out the stark contrast with global military expenditure, which was US$2.89 trillion last year, underscoring the need to realign global priorities to support reproductive health.
UNFPA's Representative in Jordan, Himyar Abdulmoghni, praised the partnership's evolution in addressing Amman's changing priorities, advancing gender equality, and empowering youth. Laila Baker, UNFPA Regional Director for Arab States, presented findings from a survey of over 108,000 young adults, revealing concerns over regional instability and economic uncertainty. She emphasized the need for demographic policies that focus on jobs, healthcare, and equal opportunity.
Omar Al-Fanek, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and Issa Masarweh, HPC Secretary-General, committed to addressing demographic shifts, youth unemployment, and economic pressures through rights-based initiatives.