‘Safer Future for Women and Girls’ event hosted in Amman by UN Women

AMMAN ­— “A Safer Future for Women and Girls” has been hosted by UN Women, in collaboration with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA), and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund), according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

The event took place in Amman, bringing together key stakeholders including civil society organisation involved in the implementation of the Second Jordanian National Action Plan (JONAP II) and grantees from the UN Trust Fund to address their contribution to national efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV).

The first session of the round table was focused on the national context and efforts to address GBV. Discussions in this session included an overview of GBV initiatives under JONAP II, discussions on specific GBV projects and their impacts, and insights into initiatives addressing GBV in promoting peace and humanitarian efforts. 

The statement said the second session featured a stakeholder engagement dialogue with donors, government representatives, and civil society organisations on the experiences, challenges and best practices in addressing Violence against Women (VAW) in Jordan. 

Maha Ali, secretary general of the Jordanian National Commission for Women, said, “Building on the lessons learned from JONAP I, we have introduced new pillars to JONAP II, including a new component on crisis management.” 

Women were among the most affected by COVID-19 and continue to be disproportionately impacted by climate change. 

A recent study launched by JNCW on “The Economic Cost of Domestic Violence against Women in Jordan” revealed the total cost of domestic violence experienced by women and girls aged 15 and above in Jordan is JD130.1 million per year in 2021 (0.4per cent of GDP). Only 1per cent of the total estimated cost was associated with prevention. In comparison, the cost of services including protection constituted around 27per cent signalling the need for increased efforts in awareness and related prevention measures. 

Mohammad Miqdadi, Secretary General National Council for Family Affairs stated, “Putting families at the heart of our fight against violence is essential, especially in Jordan where family bonds are paramount. We create a stronger foundation for a safer society by targeting family units and fostering their resilience. 

Additionally, enhancing our national systems through improved coordination, continuous development, and vigilant monitoring of policies ensures a comprehensive and effective approach to combating violence. Together, we can build a future where every individual is protected and empowered.”

Abigail Erikson, Chief, of the UN Trust Fund, said, “Three decades since the UN Trust Fund was established, we still wholeheartedly believe that women’s rights and civil society organisations play a crucial role in delivering bold, innovative, and life-changing initiatives and programmes to prevent and end violence against women and girls.”

Nicolas Burniat, UN Women’s Country Representative, said, “In a context where national and international financial resources for work on gender equality are limited, it is essential to ensure that we all work together, hand in hand and a coordinated manner: government, civil society and international partners. 

This has been the spirit under which JONAP has been implemented and we are delighted to be working closely with the UN Trust Fund for Ending Violence against Women to ensure that we maintain this approach as we scale up support for national efforts to prevent and respond to GBV,” according to the statement.