Amman, Feb 18 (Petra) – Minister of Social Development and Chair of the Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment, Wafa Bani Mustafa, participated virtually on Tuesday in the 44th session of the Arab Women’s Committee, held in Cairo. The meeting was attended by Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League and Head of the Social Affairs Sector, Haifa Abu-Ghazaleh, along with Arab ministers, social affairs officials, and representatives from regional and international organizations.

Bani Mustafa emphasized that this year’s session focuses on key issues, including the regional review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 30 years after its adoption. She noted that ongoing social, cultural, and political transformations in the region pose significant challenges to achieving sustainable and inclusive development.

She highlighted that the Beijing Declaration serves as a global reference for assessing women’s status and evaluating national efforts toward women’s empowerment. Jordan’s review of the declaration was guided by its national priorities across three modernization tracks political, economic, and administrative while also aligning with international commitments.

As part of these efforts, she pointed to Jordan’s legislative reforms, including the 2022 parliamentary election and political party laws, which enhance women’s political participation. The minister also noted the launch of the Women’s Political Participation School and the second edition of the guide on combating violence against women in public life. These measures have contributed to Jordan’s progress on the Women, Business, and the Law Index, where the country’s score increased to 12.5%.

Bani Mustafa outlined key aspects of Jordan’s Women’s Empowerment Strategy within the Economic Modernization Vision and noted the ongoing update of the National Social Protection Strategy (2025-2033) to align with modernization priorities. The strategy aims to enhance support for vulnerable groups and strengthen cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders.

She also highlighted the Ministry of Social Development’s strategic plan (2022-2026), which integrates economic, political, and public sector modernization efforts. Key priorities include enhancing social inclusion, improving institutional capacity, and optimizing services for targeted communities.

Bani Mustafa expressed appreciation for Oman’s leadership of the previous (43rd) session of the Arab Women’s Committee and congratulated Palestine on assuming the current presidency. She encouraged participants to maximize the benefits of the session’s outcomes.

//Petra// AF

18/02/2025 22:37:06