Jordan Times
Saturday, January 24, 1998
Jordan to mainstream gender issues in development plan
By Hind-Lara Mango
AMMAN - Jordan, in an unprecedented move, plans to mainstream
gender issues in 20 sectors under the 1998-2002 socio-economic
development plan instead of dedicating one of its chapters to
women issues, an official said Friday.
"Jordan will be a pioneer in this respect, though this is a
very tough subject to tackle and to achieve," said Amal
Sabbagh, secretary general of the Jordanian National Committee
for Women (JNCW).
"But it is a very good start, and through the development
plan, we can mainstream gender issues to eventually reach
official areas here," she told the Jordan Times.
Various ministries are putting final touches to the upcoming
development plan, one of a series of similar schemes first
launched after the 1967 war.
Dr. Sabbagh said the JNCW suggested in December that women's
issues be included in all sectors of the master plan, rather than
dedicating one chapter to cover women's diverse issues.
Accordingly, HRH Princess Basma, the JNCW chairperson, formed a
technical committee from commission members to look into means of
how best to undertake this issue.
Earlier this month, the committee, Jordan's main policy platform
for women, suggested appointing "technical women" to
the already existing 20 sectoral committees to help incorporate
relevant female issues and projects.
The officers will be guided by the Beijing Plan of Action, the
National Strategy for Women, and the National Population Strategy
in charting projects aimed at improving the lot of women in a
male-dominated society.
"The JNCW has worked on the post-Beijing Jordanian Plan,
with non-governmental organisations and governmental
organisations, to formulate projects for women," said Dr.
Sabbagh.
She was referring to the main declaration on women's advancement
issued by a U.N.-sponsored conference held in Beijing in 1995.
Dr. Sabbagh said the drafting of the post-Beijing programme was
in its final stages and its projects will be incorporated in the
20 sectors.
The JNCW was launched in 1992 to define policies and study
amendments to existing legislation to help remove discriminatory
laws and by-laws impeding the advancement of women's causes. The
Council of Ministers decreed the committee's mandate.
Princess Basma recently re-appointed a legal committee to work
under the auspices of JNCW to pinpoint discriminatory
legislation.
"The JNCW will suggest amendments to this legislation and
will monitor implementation, ensuring that they benefit
women," said Dr. Sabbagh.