Princess Basma celebrates birthday

AMMAN — Today marks the birthday of HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal, who has dedicated her career to promoting human development, gender equality, youth engagement, and the development and wellbeing of children. 

Princess Basma’s efforts in these areas have been embodied in her role as the chairperson of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, according to a statement released on Wednesday. 

In 1977, the princess was entrusted by His Majesty the late King Hussein with the establishment of JOHUD, a pioneering initiative which has since evolved into a national organisation that significantly contributes to human development and improving the quality of life of individuals and communities.  

JOHUD’s integrated development activities have contributed to addressing many challenges, such as unemployment and poverty, and promoting women’s right and youth empowerment, while providing services to adolescents and children in need and supporting refugees.  

The Fund operates through a network of 51 community development centres spread throughout the Kingdom’s most populated and most remote regions. 

These facilities act as a vibrant focal point for the communities they serve, with participation of women’s and youth committees and volunteers who play an active role in developing their communities. 

Women’s advancement has always been a key area of concern for the princess. 

The Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), headed by Princess Basma, has been serving as a reference and leading policy-making forum in Jordan on women’s issues and rights. 

Over the past 25 years, the JNCW has built alliances with governmental and non-governmental bodies to promote gender mainstreaming and to advance women’s socio-economic and political empowerment, according to the statement. 

In partnership with other stakeholders, the commission leads national efforts in formulating and advocating for amendments to discriminatory laws against women.

The princess is the Honorary Human Development Ambassador for UNDP and Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women and UNFPA.

Princess Basma holds a doctorate degree in development from Oxford University. 

She is married to Walid Kurdi, and has four children, Farah, Ghazi, Saad and Zein Al Sharaf, and five grandchildren, Fatima Al Zahra, Zein Al Sharaf, Abdulaziz, Aysha and Iman.