Increasing women's representation at elected councils a step towards equality — House speaker

AMMAN — Women have the responsibility to enhance their role in society and present alternatives to address any official or popular shortcoming in terms of supporting women and countering prevalent patriarchal attitudes, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh said Tuesday.

Tarawneh made these remarks at a conference jointly organised by the EU project to enhance the Lower House's institutional capabilities and the Forum of Jordanian Parliamentarian Women (FJPW) on the occasion of the International Women's Day.

He highlighted that increasing women's representation at elected councils would achieve the first step towards equality, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

FJPW President Deputy Falak Jamaani said the Jordanian community in the past decade witnessed remarkable development for women's role in public life, and an increasing recognition of their important role.

Social Development Minister Reem Abu Hassan and EU Ambassador to Jordan Andrea Matteo Fontana praised Jordanian women's roles and achievements in pursuit of obtaining their full rights in all fields, Petra added.

The International Women's Day, marked annually on March 8, is a global event celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity, according to www.internationalwomensday.com.

The event has been observed since the early 1900's — a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialised world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies, the website added.

Also on Tuesday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour expressed his best wishes to Jordanian women on the occasion, stressing the Kingdom's pride in Jordanian women's achievements in the social, political and economic fields, Petra reported.

He also referred to the government's commitment to going forward in supporting Jordanian women through enhancing their participation in public work and empowering them to be able to perform their duty towards the community as a main partner.

Senate President Faisal Fayez on Tuesday also expressed his best wishes to women senators on the occasion, expressing his appreciation of their efforts in enhancing the reform and development process, according to Petra.