Jordan Times
Monday, May 8, 2006
Work on implementation
of national strategy for women to begin soon
By Mahmoud Al Abed
AMMAN — The Jordanian National Commission for
Women (JNCW) has announced that it will coordinate with concerned governmental
and nongovernmental institutions and other civil society entities to implement
the recently endorsed national strategy for women.
JNCW Acting Secretary General Reem Najdawi Fariz said work would begin soon on
programmes tailored under an action plan to achieve the goals of the strategy.
The various organisations involved in the process, led by JNCW, “will each
contribute to the achievement of the strategy objectives according to each
organisation’s mandate and programmes,” she said.
The government is a key partner in the efforts, according to the JNCW official.
“It is certain that we will cooperate with the government to ensure the
compatibility of the strategy action plans with the National Agenda work plans
that the Ministry of Planning is currently developing,” she said.
“The endorsement of the strategy is only the first step and now it is time to
work on the implementation programmes,” Fariz added.
The Cabinet last month endorsed the updated National Strategy for Jordanian
Women, which Fariz described as “the outcome of a lengthy participatory process”
that was accomplished under the umbrella of the JNCW, chaired by HRH Princess
Basma.
The strategy has been developed within the framework of Islamic Sharia, the
Constitution, the National Charter and Jordan First Document.
The secretary general said Princess Basma contributed extensively to the
strategy during the updating process. The Princess stressed the importance of
having a strategy that is comprehensive and representative of diverse opinions,
at the launch of the process.
The Princess wanted the updated strategy to reflect Jordanian women’s
aspirations and priorities, to be in line with the Islamic Sharia and Jordanian
values and reflect Jordan’s commitment to the resolutions of international
conferences on women and international treaties, including the Convention on
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
JNCW periodically reviews and modifies its programmes and activities to ensure
their suitability to the ever-changing local, regional and international
developments.
In accordance with its mandate, which varies between consultative, coordination
and implementation, JNCW reviewed the strategy in cooperation and coordination
with diverse public, private and civil society organisations interested in
women’s issues.
The strategy consists of several domains: Legislation, economic empowerment,
women participation in public life, communication and media, and human security
and social protection.
Ten sub-domains fall under the Human Security and Social Protection domain,
including education, health, poverty, women-headed households, violence, elderly
women with special needs, food security, environment, and shelter and housing.
Each of the main five domains and sub-domains has several objectives and
procedures that ensure achieving the targets.
The JNCW, which was established by a Cabinet decision in 1992 as a
semi-governmental body, is the authority on women’s issues and activities for
Jordan’s public sector. It represents the country in all dealings pertaining to
women’s affairs at national regional, and international levels.