Regional campaign to promote women’s participation in elections launched

AMMAN — A regional campaign to promote women’s participation in elections commenced on Wednesday in the presence of heads and representatives of Arab electoral administrations and civil society organisations at the regional and local levels.

The launch ceremony was organised by the Independent Election Commission (IEC), in cooperation with the Arab Organisation for Electoral Management Bodies, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

In his opening speech, IEC Chairman Khaled Kalaldeh highlighted Arab women’s “remarkable” presence in all fields, adding that they played a “prominent” role in realising their rights over the past 70 years.

The IEC chairman added that the work of the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System (RCMPS) in the context of supporting Jordanian women’s sector is an added step towards improving women’s conditions.

Swedish Ambassador to Jordan Alexandra Rydmark said that her country in 2014 became the first country to support feminist politics, noting that the political participation of Arab women is “still limited”.

Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan Randa Aboul Hosn said women still face structural, social, economic, institutional and cultural barriers that hinder their political participation.

Addressing these challenges requires efforts on the part of every stakeholder in society, whether the government, civil society, the media, the academia, the private sector or youth, Aboul Hosn pointed out.