The Jordanian Masarat for Development and Progress has launched a project titled "Empowerment of Women in Universities in Partisan Action " aimed at training female academics on the party action system in universities. The project is supported by the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD), reflecting the KAFD’S commitment to enhancing the status and vital role of women in society and empowering them in both academic and political sectors.
Chairperson of Masarat's Board of Trustees Reem Abu Hassan has stated that the "outputs of the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System, which stand as the State's vision for political reform in the new century, have highlighted the need for a set of legislations that support women's political empowerment. These significant milestone amendments to the Constitution and laws governing political life, such as elections and party involvement, are designed to position women as active participants in the upcoming phase, she said.
Abu Hassan added, the reforms reflect our wise leadership's genuine support of empowerment, not just cosmetic measures. The endeavor is also a result of numerous accomplishments by Jordanian women, proving their worthiness of this Royal trust across various domains.
She further added, "Today, as we move beyond the theoretical phase towards practical implementation, and with the issuance of relevant by-laws, such as [government's] financial contributions to support parties and party activities in universities, it has become imperative to train and empower women wherever they are. This will harness the supportive environment and equip women to lead in the next phase and to prove worthy of this leadership's trust, which they are expected to transform into public trust in them to achieve their goals within the limits of their potential and capabilities."
Abu Hassan emphasized that "women in the academic field must evolve into prominent figures in this drive for empowerment. A female academic's personal belief in her role is the key to success. Her ability to communicate this belief to her male and female students makes her capable of shaping mindsets and instilling values. She is a learned leader and teacher, who has achieved the highest levels of knowledge through her efforts and education. This places the responsibility on her shoulders to build capable women who can work and guide effectively."
She continued, "On the other hand, all current developments pose a challenge for women to capitalize on this supportive environment. They should not rely on economic, social, or political conditions as excuses. Rather, they should embrace these challenges and overcome them. At the same time, any potential political violence against women who believe in their political rights and role must be addressed, and new women leaders must be nurtured. These leaders are already present, but circumstances have hindered them from demonstrating their full potential."
Lawyer Abu Hassan stated, "I do not intend to downplay the challenges, as they are substantial, spanning economic, social, political, and even legal dimensions in some legislations that may need amendment or revision. These legislations could impact the overall political reform process, particularly in relation to women. However, I see a beacon of light indicating that success is within reach. The Jordanian woman is capable of accomplishment, seizing opportunities through belief, support, training, and qualification. This responsibility rests on all of us."
For his part, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, who acted as patron at the launching event, highlighted the central role of women in decision-making as a crucial aspect of effecting change. He stressed that involving women in political life is a cornerstone of democracy based on equality and equal opportunity for all. This entails supporting women to hone their skills and progress as change-making leaders in public life.
Mahafzah emphasized that King Abdullah II has shown great interest in enhancing the role of women, consistently emphasizing the importance of their active participation in the comprehensive reform efforts and underscoring the need to vigorously promote and empower women, removing obstacles in their path, and enabling them to contribute to economic, partisan, and political life.
The minister pointed out that most of the outcomes of the Royal Committee for Political Reform focus on empowering women in the political process in general, and the electoral process in particular, calling for increasing their involvement in party life through the Political Parties Law. This signals a new phase that will further enhance the role of women in political life, he said, adding that it is no longer possible to deny the potential of Jordanian women. He stressed that utilizing women's capabilities and wisdom, is pivotal, especially the academics and educators among them, as there is an essential need to empower women to participate in political life and play their role in this domain. Mahafzah noted that the Jordanian Constitution and laws safeguard women's rights in various walks of life, and subsequently, they have become partners in efforts to develop Jordanian society in the fields of education, culture, training, and labor. Empowering women politically is one of the most significant contemporary issues, the minister said, urging their active participation in political life as they are a key pillar in the democratic process.
Mahafzah emphasized that our educational system is focused on promoting women's presence in leadership positions. Academics and educators, especially those in direct contact with students, are role models, he said, adding that women have the responsibility to transfer experiences to students and other women in society. They play a pivotal role in fulfilling the vision of having programmatic party governments and active party life, as envisioned by King Abdullah II, the minister stressed. This vision is based on growing societal awareness that solidifies the significance of women's role in sustainable development, given their great, significant and unique capabilities. He added that a qualitative leap is needed to integrate women into developmental efforts, public policies, and political and party life.
Mahafzah voiced hope that this gathering would achieve its desired goals and outcomes, saying that he looked forward to the recommendations that would emerge from this initiative and the clear vision and actionable steps that would enhance the role of academic women in partisan action.
He also stressed that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, along with the Higher Education Council, were willing to consider and adopt any recommendations pertaining to the political and party empowerment of female academics.
In his remarks, Director of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development Mazen Tabbalat underlined the fund's unwavering commitment to comprehensive development as its main mandate since its inception as an initiative by King Abdullah II. He noted that in light of the ongoing political reform process Jordan has embarked on, which involves supporting the role of youth and women in public life, KAFD has been extending support for various political projects, especially in Jordanian universities, which he described as breeding grounds for youth and women, in collaboration with various civil society institutions.
Tabbalat remarked that KAFD closely monitors the results of these programs and projects in cooperation with partners and evaluates their intended impact, which is to achieve positive outcomes in this field.