Amman: The Senate participated in the Seventeenth Workshop of Parliamentary Scholars and Parliamentarians, hosted by Wroxton College in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, over two consecutive days.
According to Jordan News Agency, the senators joined parliamentarians, academics, researchers, and experts from around the world to examine key issues and challenges related to developing parliamentary work and improving the effectiveness of legislative institutions amid rapid political and technological change.
Through plenary and parallel sessions, the workshop addressed several specialized topics, including the challenges and applications of artificial intelligence in parliamentary work, post-legislative scrutiny, parliamentary oversight and legislative review, and the advancement of women's representation and political participation.
Discussions also covered the digital transformation of parliaments, relations among governments, parliaments, and local administrations, international parliamentary cooperation, and the role of parliaments in national security. Participants also examined violence against parliamentarians and its impact on democratic practices and parliamentary performance.
The Senate's Culture and Youth Committee Chair Senator Haifa Najjar emphasized that women's empowerment should be rooted in equal citizenship and viewed as an integral part of democratic reform and effective parliamentary participation. She stressed the need for a comprehensive approach linking women's participation to broader social, cultural, and value systems, establishing their presence in decision-making positions on merit and citizenship.
Such an approach, she said, would strengthen parliaments' ability to represent all segments of society and formulate more inclusive and equitable legislation. Jordan's experience, she added, has demonstrated the importance of gradual reform in expanding women's political and parliamentary participation through a national process based on citizenship and the rule of law.
Najjar highlighted that Jordan's experience is founded on diversity, pluralism, and dialogue as essential elements of state-building and parliamentary development, emphasizing that differences in viewpoints can enrich public policy rather than cause division.
She called for national experiences to be presented confidently and without apologizing for cultural identity, while building on shared human values of humility, attentive listening, and cooperation.
This approach, she said, would foster constructive dialogue and peace and reflect the role of parliaments in building consensus and serving the public interest through partnership and equality.
In two interventions, the Senate's Public Services Committee Rapporteur Senator Abla Amawi spoke on the growing role of parliaments in governing and regulating artificial intelligence and the challenges they face amid rapid global technological developments.
She stated that parliaments should actively contribute to shaping national and international legislation and policies governing the use of artificial intelligence, rather than being limited to legitimizing regulatory frameworks drafted outside their jurisdictions.
Amawi stressed that efforts should address the digital divide, capacity building, infrastructure, data governance, financing, and regulatory gaps to ensure the responsible and equitable use of artificial intelligence. She also highlighted the role of parliamentary and international organizations, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in helping parliaments address global challenges.
These efforts include promoting international standards grounded in human rights and international law, supporting United Nations agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and emphasizing adherence to conventions on genocide prevention and prohibited weapons.
Amawi called for stronger international parliamentary consensus on these issues to help consolidate international peace and security.
The workshop featured in-depth discussions and exchanges of comparative experiences, focusing on improving legislative and oversight tools and strengthening parliaments' ability to keep pace with digital transformation. Participants also explored the use of artificial intelligence to support decision-making, improve legislative quality, and promote transparency and accountability, contributing to stronger democratic practices and more effective parliamentary institutions.
The workshop concluded with a keynote lecture titled "Strengthening Parliaments: Societal and Parliamentary Challenges," which examined ways to enhance parliamentary capacities in addressing societal and institutional challenges. The lecture also highlighted the importance of strengthening relations between parliaments and citizens to build greater trust in democratic institutions.
The Wroxton Workshop is a prominent international forum specializing in parliamentary studies. It is organized by the University of Hull's Centre for Legislative Studies, with support from the IPU, and is held every two years over two days. The workshop brings together parliamentarians, academics, researchers, and parliamentary officials from around the world to exchange expertise and examine the latest studies and comparative experiences in parliamentary, legislative, and oversight development.
Source: Jordan News Agency