New JNCW members call for consolidating efforts to achieve gender mainstreaming

AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma on Saturday chaired the first meeting of the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) since its re-formation last month. 

Princess Basma, chairperson of JNCW, commended the efforts of former members and welcomed the commitment of their new counterparts, representing the private and public sectors, and civil society organisations, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times.

During the meeting, held at the premises of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, JNCW Secretary General Salma Nims presented an overview of the commission, highlighting its achievements and main challenges. 

She called on the government and relevant entities to provide the necessary resources to empower the commission to carry out its responsibilities and mandate, stressing that the current budget limits the JNCW’s ability to deliver numerous activities and programmes aimed at advancing women’s empowerment in Jordan.

In addition, Nims highlighted the main themes of the 2013-2017 Jordanian National Strategy for Women and the proposed action plan of 2016, the statement said.

JNCW members discussed their expected contributions to support the commission’s work and the steps Jordan is taking to empower women and enhance their participation in development.

Commending the solid partnerships between the JNCW and civil society organisations and relevant ministries, Princess Basma underlined the vital role this network of partners, coalitions and cooperation mechanisms has played over the last two decades. 

She added that these collaborative efforts have succeeded in creating the needed positive change to advance women’s issues.

The new members emphasised the need to support JNCW institutionally and provide the necessary resources to enable it to carry out its mandate. 

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury highlighted the importance of coordination and complementary relations with the commission, as a national entity established by a Cabinet decision in 1992 to work at the policy level with the executive authorities, including ministries and other official institutions.

Public Sector Development Minister Khleef Al Khawaldeh highlighted the cooperation between his ministry and JNCW, resulting in implementing a programme to build leadership capacities among female public sector employees to empower them as they seek senior positions, according to the statement. 

In addition, Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni stressed the importance of amending the punishment for harassment, which was among the recent proposed amendments to the Penal Code.

As the meeting concluded, participants agreed on the need to consolidate efforts to achieve gender mainstreaming in different fields and eliminate obstacles that hinder the empowerment of women, namely in economic participation, due to its impact on social and political empowerment, the statement said.