Activists, MPs meet over efforts to achieve UN gender equality goal

AMMAN — Legislators and women activists met in Amman on Tuesday to discuss recent steps adopted by the government with regards to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

MP Wafa Bani Mustafa, who took part in the meeting, said that the government has formed an Agenda for Sustainable Development committee to follow up on the application of SDG 5.

“Forming a committee is an important step that will open the door for the concerned parties to tackle the required points related to women in the SDG 5, and obviously Jordan has made improvements in the education and health sectors,” Bani Mustafa told the gathering.

The Jerash MP, who was named by the government to be Parliament’s representative on the committee, added that the main challenge is boosting “women’s political and economic participation”.

“The committee will address these challenges and come up with the appropriate recommendations and steps to be adopted by our government,” Bani Mustafa said.

The event was organised by the Arab Women Organisation (AWO), in collaboration with the Forum of Jordanian Women in Parliament.

SDG 5 concerns gender equality and the empowerment of women, and calls for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women, human trafficking, sexual abuse and early and forced marriage.

It also demands the recognition of women’s work in the household and in caring for children, as a step towards ensuring equal responsibility and work in the home.

Another aspect of the goal calls for ensuring gender equality in decision-making positions, as well as in the political, social and public spheres, while ensuring reproductive health services as stipulated at international conventions.

The AWO has taken it up as its responsibility to follow up on Jordan’s implementation of SDG 5 as a priority in its future strategy, according to AWO Programmme Coordinator Amal Taleb.

“Considering women's rights as an integral part of human rights, the AWO keeps seeking to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and to ensure gender equality, social justice and decent livelihoods for all citizens,” Taleb told The Jordan Times.

Also addressing the gathering was Director of the Sustainable Development Department at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation Mutasim Kilani, who said work should be addressed towards the youth in order to achieve SDG 5.

“Sustainable development must meet the new generation’s needs and the fifth goal of the SDGs will surely help in empowering the youth as well as women in our society,” Kilani said.