Jordan-Cyprus Panel Session Advances Gender Equality Efforts

Amman: Cyprus Gender Equality Commissioner, Josie Christodoulou, and Cypriot Ambassador to Amman, Michalis Ioannou, joined a session organized by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) titled Gender Equality and Inclusive Gender Policy. The session showcased JOHUD's programs focusing on gender, women's empowerment, social protection, and environmental sustainability, highlighting its contributions through its 52 centers empowering women, girls, and youth across the Kingdom. Ioannou commended JOHUD's efforts in women's empowerment, pointing to cooperation between Jordan and Cyprus in this field. Christodoulou emphasized global attention to women's empowerment for achieving sustainable development. For her part, Secretary General of Jordanian National Commission for Women's Affairs, Maha Ali, affirmed the committee's partnership efforts to implement policies and legislation empowering women, girls, and youth in line with national development goals. Maysoon Daboubi, Director of Women and Gender Empowerment Program at JOHUD, discussed the Fund's interventions to reduce the gender gap, emphasizing its human rights-based approach and integration of gender justice into all development programs. Daboubi explained JOHUD's aim to enhance women's role and bridge the gender gap in the Kingdom, citing the World Economic Forum's 2023 report, which indicates a 64.6 percent gender gap in Jordan compared to the global average of 68.4 percent. Duaa Mufleh, Project Officer for Environmental Sustainability at JOHUD, highlighted efforts to involve women in the economic process, focusing on training and raising awareness about environmental governance, targeting over 300,000 women in water, agriculture, and energy sectors. Rana Dhiab, coordinator of the social protection axis, discussed the comprehensive approach to family welfare, focusing on vulnerable groups' capabilities development and resource accessibility to ensure rights fulfillment. Ruba Matarneh, Secretary-General of Women's Committees Gathering, emphasized the partnership's role in empowering women in public and political life, with 350 awareness sessions conducted on electoral and party laws. Source: Jordan News Agency