Jordan participates in Ministerial Meeting of Arab Women’s Committee

AMMAN — Jordan has participated in the 39th session of the Ministerial Meeting of the Arab Women’s Committee to discuss the implications of the coronavirus pandemic on women and girls.

The ministerial meeting was headed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and hosted online, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Development Barq Dmour represented Jordan.

Dmour said: “In light of the current exceptional global and Arab conditions related to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and its negative human, social, economic and health impacts on all aspects of daily life, which have reflected on the most vulnerable social groups — especially women and girls who already suffer from multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination — the Kingdom was eager to combat the virus and protect families and communities.”

Giving a speech during the meeting, Dmour stressed Jordan’s commitment to support the empowerment of women and girls by giving them priority in various political, economic and social issues.

“What certainly motivate us to work are the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah to us as a government,” he said.

Regarding the procedures that the Jordanian government has adopted to support women during the crisis, Dmour said that medical services for women, especially in matters of reproductive health and chronic diseases, were given urgency through primary and comprehensive health centres scattered throughout the Kingdom’s governorates and refugee camps.

Through the Ministry of Social Development and the Family Protection Department hotlines and services, help for victims of domestic violence during times of comprehensive lockdown remained accessible and law enforcement officials were made aware of the need to respond to and document calls from the victims, Dmour noted.

He also highlighted the economic packages provided by the government to those affected by the pandemic, such as offering support to families headed by women and health insurance to those who could not resume work because they had to care for children or the elderly at home.