Jordan Times
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
National Strategy for
the Jordanian Family launched
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN — The Kingdom on Monday launched its first
national strategy seeking to guide Jordanian families on how to build a healthy
and solid family structure for future generations.
The National Strategy for the Jordanian Family, devised by researchers as well
as civil society and governmental entities over the past two years, highlights
some of the social, economic and health challenges affecting families today.
Prime Minister Adnan Badran, who deputised for Their Majesties King Abdullah and
Queen Rania at the launch, stressed the government's commitment to implement the
executive plan of the strategy, pointing out that the government was ready to
provide all necessary support.
The strategy's executive action plan is expected to be unveiled in two weeks
time, National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) Acting Secretary General Lara
Hussein said recently.
According to NCFA, which spearheaded the strategy's creation, the strategy
presents eight components related to family life and the priorities needed for
intervention.
“The strategy is designed to enhance the role of the family in various fields
especially since the family is the basis for the progress of the societies,”
Hussein said at the launch.
The strategy seeks to enhance the family structure and its interaction with the
community and strengthen relations within the family itself, according to a
statement released by the NCFA.
It also cites many factors that have weakened the identity and structure of the
Jordanian family unit and hindered its growth as a productive group.
The strategy will ensure that the policies and programmes developed for the
family are in line with those of the population, the society and the economy,
according to the statement.
The strategy, which cites globalisation as one factor responsible for
marginalising the role of families as the primary source of socialisation and
preserver of cultural values and national identity, seeks to enhance its
cultural role and ability to deal with the cultural consequences of
globalisation.
The strategy also aims to contribute to the formulation of legislative policies
that provide a favourable environment to establish a unified family and protect
it from social disorganisation. In addition, it seeks to sustain contacts with
Jordanian families abroad.
The strategy cites urbanisation as having caused an imbalance in the family
unit, where many have shifted from extended families to nuclear units today.
It also indicates the importance of helping families to be financially secure
and self-sufficient and open to modernisation without losing their cultural
identity.
The NCFA will be responsible for monitoring and following up on the strategy.
The Arab Family Committee (AFC) held its first session on the sidelines of the
launch yesterday.
The AFC, established under the auspices of the Arab League last year, includes
22 member states working to devise a regional strategy for the Arab family.