Jordan Times
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Queen stresses importance of
enhancing women's leadership skills in various sectors
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Wednesday underscored the need for
Jordanian women's organisations and their members to continue working together
to enable the creation of a network that supports and empowers upcoming women
leaders.
The Queen made the remarks during the annual meeting of the Jordanian chapter of
the International Women's Forum (IWF), an organisation that facilitates
networking among women and promotes women's empowerment and opportunities for
women in leadership.
The meeting, attended by the 26 IWF members, included an overview of the
organisation's accomplishments to date, programmes in progress, IWF committees,
future plans and achievement requirements. In addition, a presentation was made
of the different training courses on leadership, which were conducted with the
aim of developing the members' leadership potential, thereby providing them with
a sense of authority.
Jordan's IWF President Raghda Kurdi said the organisation's achievements include
the development of a website, the formation of several committees for training
and membership, including the special committee for managing the microfinance
award and the leadership development programme committee, whereby the IWF is
currently working in collaboration with Jordanian banks to enhance women's
leadership skills in this sector.
It is anticipated that 20 ladies will be nominated three times a year to attend
training workshops within the latter programme, with the aim of expanding the
organisation's network to include women from various sectors and areas,
including the governorates.
During the launching ceremony last year, Queen Rania had noted that the
establishment of the forum, would help involve women leaders from Jordan in the
IWF programmes, noting the importance of benefiting from the experience of IWF
worldwide to implement non-traditional activities that would comply with the
global challenges of today.
Established in 1982, the Washington-based IWF is a global organisation of
pre-eminent women of significant and diverse achievement. The forum facilitates
networking among women of achievement and promotes opportunities for women in
leadership.
Through the IWF's international programming and conferences, women leaders
exchange ideas and goals with other influential women throughout the world.
Since its establishment, female leaders from all sectors in society have joined
the IWF as members and have served as mentors, speakers and trainers to an array
of promising women of high potential throughout the world.
In addition to former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright and UNICEF
Executive Director Carol Bellamy, many other prominent women representing
international, social and political organisations have become IWF members.
Established in October 2003, Jordan's IWF chapter, the first in the Arab world,
was officially launched in March 2004, under the patronage of Queen Rania, who
is the organisation's Honorary Chairperson. Forums have already been established
throughout North and South America, Asia, Africa and Europe.