Bani Mustafa stresses role of IT in civil society

AMMAN — Civil society plays a vital role in spreading awareness of the use of information technology in training and in expanding the digital space, Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the International Conference on Civil Society Organisations and Equality between Women and Men in the Digital Age, Bani Mustafa referred to the public responsibility of using the digital space for good, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Bani Mustafa said that the media and educational curricula are responsible for boosting respect for the other, spreading awareness of the best uses of the digital space and using social networking sites to introduce different cultures and exchange information.

Bani Mustafa stated that the government is also looking to operate centres for comprehensive services across the Kingdom to provide for the local community, taking into account accessibility for people with disabilities.

As for the role of technology in attracting investments, the minister referred to the Jordan Source programme, which was launched under the vision of HRH Crown Prince Hussein with the aim of promoting Jordan as a model destination for investment and innovation in the ICT sector.

On the role of technology in women's economic empowerment, Bani Mustafa said that the Economic Modernisation Vision's women's empowerment strategy launched an initiative that enables women to market their products online, stressing commitment to achieving justice and equality for all members of society to create safe and developed societies that achieve sustainable development and prosperity.

For her part, EU Ambassador to Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou said that the promotion of women's empowerment, gender equality and innovation were key themes in the "Stronger Together" project, which aims to bridge the gender gap with the use of digital tools and empower women economically while combating gender-based violence, which may also occur in the digital space.

Head of the French Development Agency in Jordan Laurent Duriez indicated that the conference honours and celebrates women and girls who seek to develop transformative technology and digital education, noting that an approach that takes into account the differences between women and men in innovation, technology and digital education can enhance the empowerment of women and girls.