Jordan Times
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
PM calls on women's groups to present suggestions on legislation amendments
AMMAN (Petra) — Prime Minister Faisal Fayez on Monday called on women's organisations to hold activities designed to “crystallise women's opinions” on their role in political development.The premier's remarks were made as he attended part of a meeting of the ministerial committee on political development, which dedicated its session yesterday to discuss amendments on women-related legislation.
Fayez said the government “will listen to and support any suggestions made by women's organisations,” in fulfilment of His Majesty King's Abdullah vision of a “Jordanian society free from any legislation that discriminate against women.”
Minister of Political Development Mohammad Daoudiyeh had told the meeting that such dialogue with women leaders would also take place in the rural and badia areas, and urged women to “lobby for their rights with concerned institutions and the Parliament.”
Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said Jordan is bound by 46 international agreements on women, adding that the legislation will be published in the Official Gazette or referred to Parliament for endorsement. He called on representatives of women's organisations to decide on the most urgent legislation to be presented to the lawmakers.
At the meeting, Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Ahmad Hilayel said the Women's Affairs Department at his ministry would be dedicated as a channel of communication with women activists, stressing that any changes to the status of women in the country should be consistent with the teachings of Islam.
In the discussion that followed, women present at the meeting called for changes to the pension, election, personal status, municipalities and some economic laws in ways that ensure justice for women.