US stands with Jordan in advancing gender equality — Wells

AMMAN — When women are allowed to reach their full potential, communities flourish and economies grow, US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells said Monday.

In remarks at a University of Jordan seminar titled “Advancing Women’s Empowerment: A Shared Vision for the United States and Jordan”, Wells noted that more than 50 per cent of students at Jordan’s universities are women, calling for involving them in all sectors.

Highlighting the common challenges women face in Jordan and in the US, the ambassador said women in her country “participate in the workforce at rates once unimaginable, but they still earn less than men”.

“In the United States, as in Jordan, we have travelled a long and challenging road, but the achievements we have seen over the last several decades are a reminder that real progress is possible, even in the space of one generation,” she added.  

Stressing that the Jordanian community should stand hand-in-hand against extremism and human rights violations, Wells said women have a great role to play in countering radicalism.

“Women, as deeply influential figures in their families and communities, can play a vital role in efforts to combat violent extremism. Empowered women are an indispensable ally in the ideological battle against Daesh.”

“We are fighting Daesh on the battlefield in Iraq and Syria, but we are also fighting Daesh on the battlefield of ideas. Daesh’s abductions, enslavements, and rapes of girls and women constitute gross violations of basic human rights,” she noted. 

Commending Jordan’s economic development, Wells voiced hope that the Kingdom’s economy will “flourish” further.

“Women are making their mark on Jordan’s elected bodies... Eighteen women now serve as MPs, three of whom won seats outside the quota,” she said, citing other examples of successful Jordanian women in public and private fields.

“We applaud the government’s nomination of a record five female ministers to the new Cabinet and welcome the opportunity to work with them,” Wells added, calling for more actions to empower women.

“We hope the groundswell against Article 308 of the Penal Code will lead to its abolition, so that victims of rape will no longer be compelled to marry their attackers.”

Acknowledging that there is still “a long way to go before all women can reach their full potential”, Wells said the US is “proud to stand with Jordan as a partner in efforts that advance gender equality”.