IEC focuses on women empowerment in election, political parties

AMMAN — Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) Musa Maaytah on Monday received the Head of the Senate's Women Committee Khawla Armouti and the Head of the Lower House's Women Committee Zainab Al Bdoul. 

According to a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the meeting is one of a series of meetings the IEC is holding focused on engaging with electoral process stakeholders under the theme, "Women Empowerment in Election and Political Parties". 

Maaytah said that IEC established a women empowerment unit aimed at supporting and promoting women's participation in the broader political arena and assisting women to attain positions of decision-making. 

IEC, in cooperation with stakeholders, has surveyed the polls and counting centres in the Kingdom's governorates and have taken measures to equip the polling centres to guarantee accessibility for persons with disabilities, Maaytah said.

Maaytah said that IEC has updated the voters’ lists according to the voters’ permanent addresses as registered at the civil status and passports department in accordance with the effective elections law.

He noted that the Jordan Electoral Institute is established with the aim of building capacities of both local and international partners through providing training. 

Maaytah also said that the institute will grant a masters degree in election management and allocate seats for women based on the criteria adopted by the IEC.