Queen Silvia of Sweden visits Al Hussein Society Jordan Centre for Training and Inclusion

AMMAN — Queen Silvia of Sweden on Wednesday visited Al Hussein Society Jordan Centre for Training and Inclusion, a leading organisation in providing rehabilitation and education services for persons with disabilities in Jordan. 

The Queen, accompanied by HRH Princess Rym Ali, the escort of honour, met HRH Princess Majda Raad, president of the society, HH Prince Mired, president of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa, the secretary general of the HCD, and representatives of a number of local organisations, including the Swedish Foundation and Habaybna Platform.

The meeting highlighted the importance of Queen Silvia’s visit to Jordan and the key role of government sectors and civil society organisations towards realising the rights of persons with disabilities.

Jordan’s achievements in policies, procedures and services relevant to persons with disabilities were also discussed, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Queen Silvia’s visit to the society emphasises Sweden’s keenness on achieving de facto equality of persons with disabilities, notably the right to education, as well as enhancing Jordanian-Swedish cooperation in this arena.

During a tour of its facilities, Queen Silvia was briefed on the society’s works across Jordan to improve the situation of persons with disabilities.

The queen and the accompanying delegation met with children from the association’s school, and visited a workshop for prosthetic and medical devices, and another one for providing adjustments to mobility aids.

She also took a first-hand look at mobile workshops affiliated with the mobile clinic programmes, which are used to expand the scope of operations covering remote areas that lack such centres. 

Queen Silvia was briefed on Al Hussein Society’s remarkable progress in improving the situation of persons with disabilities since the Queen’s last visit in 1989.

Voicing appreciation of Queen Silvia’s visit, Anni Mazagobian Abu Hanna, Executive Director of the Society, said that the society is “suffering due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic”.  

She expressed hope that the Royal visit would draw international organisations’ attention to the education and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, Petra reported.