Conference kicks off on Jordanian women’s political participation

AMMAN — A conference by Karak Castle Centre on Monday facilitated in-depth discussions about Jordanian women’s political participation.

The two-day conference comes as part of the electoral violence observatory project, which is implemented by Karak Castle Centre for Consultation and Training in cooperation with the German Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung (FES).

The first day saw two panel sessions which generally focused on the opportunities that enhance women’s political participation and women’s electoral engagement.

In her opening remarks, Founder and Executive Director of Karak Castle Centre Israa Mahadeen, highlighted that the conference marks the conclusion of the observatory project’s first phase, from which the National Women’s Leadership Network — Alia has emerged.

“The network, which is focused on strengthening women’s political presence, currently includes 30 women who are either activists or elected officials of provincial and municipal councils,” she further noted.

During the first day, Chairman of the board of commissioners of the Independent Election Commission Musa Maaytah said that “Jordanian women are capable enough to take part in political and partisan life”, noting that women’s empowerment and equal opportunities for women and men in all domains will be the slogan for the forthcoming period.

As for Magdalena Kirchner, FES resident director, she shared the German experience of women’s electoral participation, during which Kirchner encouraged women to empower themselves and embrace their key role in the political sphere.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Khawaldeh pointed out that the main obstacle facing women when they want to enter into the political life is having no economic empowerment, in addition to certain norms and societal determinants which impede women participation in elections.

However, he said that “going forward, women will have stronger presence in partisan life in Jordan”.