Jordan Times
Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Queen commends Arab
media role in supporting women
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday underlined the media's
responsibility in enhancing women's role in the development of societies.
In an Op-Ed published in the Arab world's major
Arabic dailies on the occasion of Arab Women's Day on Feb. 1, Queen Rania
underscored that any progress could not be achieved without identifying the
problem, engaging the media to raise awareness on issues, shaping public opinion
and affecting policies to achieve progress on all fronts.
Queen Rania noted the simultaneous launch of the Arab Media Campaign throughout
the Arab media last year, stood testament to a remarkable first in media.
“Competitive media outlets, all came together to work together for the
betterment of society through supporting women's role and engaging them in the
overall course of development.”
The campaign launched under the Queen's patronage in Amman in March 2004, was
one of the main projects of the Arab Women's Summit, which Her Majesty currently
heads. It was designed to change existing stereotypes of women in the Arab world
while prodding them towards further participation through seeking further
education, having the courage to venture into all sectors of society and taking
part in the decision-making process.
The media had a serious mission of working to change stereotypes on Arabs in
general and women in particular, Queen Rania added.
In a televised message last year, the Queen underlined that women's
participation was not an end, but a means that could achieve further progress
for Arab societies.
Media and education have a big role in changing engraved stereotypes of Arab
women in order to create a general awareness of issues and policies affecting
them while activating their role in building their societies and encouraging
their full participation in public life, the Queen said.
According to the Arab Human Development Report 2003, one of the main hindrances
affecting the region's development is the lack of women's participation, rights
and access to knowledge.