Jordanian MPs discuss women related-issues in study visit to Rome

AMMAN — A delegation of Jordanian MPs led by the second deputy speaker of the Lower House, Suleiman Al Zeben, recently met with the vice president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Mara Carfagna, a statement by the Lower House said on Thursday. 

The chairperson of the Women’s and Family Affairs committee, attorney Reem Abu Dalbuh, and the head of the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus, MP Rasmieh Al Kaabneh also attended the meeting,  

During the meeting, Al Zeben highlighted "the deep rooted" relations between Jordan and Italy, stressing the importance of boosting bilateral ties and cooperation, the statement added. 

"Jordan and Italy share similar stances on many issues in the region, and Jordan supports the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," he said, before highlighting the "extensive support" that Jordan provides to refugees, and the economic, political, and social burdens this imposes on the country. 

The women MPs led a discussion on gender-sensitive lawmaking, calling for the greater inclusion of women in public life. They outlined the recent legislative amendments on behalf of women, especially the repeal of Article 308 of the Penal Code and the endorsement of the domestic violence protection law, among others. 

They also went over the progress of women’s rights and the reform process in Jordan, according to the statement.

For her part, Carfagna expressed her admiration for the political positions of His Majesty King Abdullah on different global matters, praising the great humanitarian role of Jordan in hosting and supporting the refugees. 

The meeting took place as part of a five-day study visit to Italy within the framework of the G-7 Deauville Partnership MENA Transition Fund regional project on “Promoting Women’s Participation in Parliaments and Policymaking”, organised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in coordination with the Jordanian House of Representatives and the Jordanian National Commission for Women.

The visit, which was hosted by Italy, a G-7 member country, brought together MPs, parliamentary secretariat members, and local elected officials. It aimed to provide Jordanian delegates with insights from the Italian experience and facilitate an exchange with peer-level information on the promotion of women in political life and the drafting, negotiation and implementation of gender-equality policies at all levels of government, the statement concluded.