Women empowerment part, parcel of sustainable development — Abu Hassan

AMMAN — Women empowerment means strength and power, and sustainable development entails effecting balanced changes in the economic, social and environmental fields; thus the two are interrelated and influence each other, Social Development Minister Reem Abu Hassan said Tuesday.

Abu Hassan made these remarks at the opening of the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women held by the UN in New York, according to a ministry statement. 

The Jordanian delegation also includes women MPs, and representatives from government and civil society organisations.

Abu Hassan added that women empowerment in Jordan — according to educational, economic and political indicators — has witnessed clear progress, citing educational studies that put the illiteracy rate at 6 per cent — 8 per cent among females and 4 per cent among males.

The studies also revealed close rates between the two genders in the elementary and secondary education and bachelor’s degree, while males are dominant in the master’s and PhD degrees, said Abu Hassan, head of the Jordanian delegation to the event, which concludes on March 24.

Outcomes of the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination show that female students achieve the highest scores in the academic streams each year, said the minister.

As for economic participation, studies reveal a wide gender gap, with women’s participation not exceeding 15 per cent, Abu Hassan noted.

The conference provides an opportunity for policy makers, women’s rights advocates, researchers and activists to draw up policies and set new initiatives aimed at enhancing gender equality and women empowerment, the statement added.