Jordan Times
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Princess Basma stresses importance of proactive participation in development process
AMMAN (JT) — HRH Princess Basma on Monday
underlined the importance of true partnership among government agencies, NGOs
and civil society institutions to effectively achieve sustainable development,
stressing the need for proactive participation in the process by both men and
women.
The Princess remarks were made as she received a delegation of US Senate
staffers, who are currently on a visit to the Kingdom to be acquainted with
Jordan's experience in legislative reforms and the progress the Kingdom has
achieved in the fields of women empowerment, education and local community
development.
During the meeting, which took place at the offices of the Jordan Hashemite Fund
for Human Development (JOHUD), Princess Basma outlined the projects the fund is
implementing and the efforts undertaken by the Jordanian National Commission for
Women in the field of women's empowerment, especially at the grassroots level.
The Princess pointed to “the continuous and permanent presence of JOHUD” in the
local communities as a success factor in the fund's mission, underlining the
role played by JOHUD's network of 50 community development centres spread across
the country. She also reviewed youth-oriented programmes implemented by the
Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development (ZENID). She cited as examples
the Intel Computer Clubhouse at ZENID, which offers youth various IT training
programmes that help them better plan their future.
The US delegates said they were impressed with such progress, noting that IT
training of youth, especially young women, plays a basic role in community
advancement and development.
Meanwhile, Senate President Zeid Rifai and Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali
also met with the delegation yesterday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
Rifai reviewed the latest regional developments with the delegates, stressing
the significance of the US role regarding Palestine and Iraq. He called for more
efforts to be exerted towards pushing the peace process between Palestinians and
Israelis forward.
Majali briefed the US delegates on the democratic process and political reform
in the Kingdom. The speaker said His Majesty King Abdullah is leading an
economic, political and social reform process in order to make Jordan a model
country in the region.