Bani Mustafa praised the efforts of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, particularly in implementing the Parliamentary Fellowship Project, which constitutes a practical model for engaging youth in political life, enhancing their knowledge of legislative and oversight work, and providing them with the opportunity to gain practical experience through working with deputies, and preparing studies, policy papers, and legal research that contribute to developing public policies.
She pointed out the progress achieved by Jordan in enhancing women's parliamentary representation, as the number of female deputies rose from 15 in the 19th House of Representatives in 2020 to 27 in the 20th House of Representatives in 2024, emphasizing the importance of building upon this progress, enhancing women's presence in leadership and decision-making positions, and expanding their participation in political parties and public life.
Within the framework of national efforts aimed at enhancing women's political participation, Bani Mustafa highlighted the role of training and qualification programs in building the capacities of women and female youth, pointing out that the Women's Political Participation School, established in 2022 to enhance political and leadership knowledge and skills, has implemented 15 training cohorts from which 665 female participants have graduated, supporting the preparation of female leaders capable of effective participation in public life and political work.
She stressed that women's empowerment is directly linked to enhancing their economic participation and providing them with appropriate opportunities, explaining the importance of linking national policies with vocational and digital training, supporting entrepreneurship, and improving access to job opportunities, financing, and markets.
She pointed to the importance of the Institutional Seal initiative to support and empower women in the public and private sectors, in cooperation with the Jordanian National Commission for Women and the King Abdullah II Center for Excellence, in promoting institutional practices supportive of women and equal opportunities.
Bani Mustafa added that social protection represents a fundamental axis in women's empowerment efforts, as reflected by the National Social Protection Strategy 2025–2033 through the axes of dignity, empowerment, opportunities, and resilience. She explained that expanding nursery and social welfare services, developing inclusive services, and enhancing the quality of services provided to families and persons with disabilities will support women's participation in the labor market, provide a more family-friendly environment, and develop the capacities of workers in care and social work.
The meeting witnessed an extensive discussion between the Minister of Social Development and the participating young men and women, addressing the priorities of women's empowerment, the role of youth in developing national legislation and policies, and the importance of utilizing data and studies in evaluating programs and measuring their impact.
At the close of the meeting, Bani Mustafa emphasized that investing in youth represents an investment in Jordan's future, stressing the importance of integrating efforts among the government, the House of Representatives, political parties, universities, the private sector, and civil society institutions to enhance the active participation of youth and women in the modernization and national development process. It is noteworthy that the "Parliamentary Fellowship" project, launched in 2019, continues its efforts to provide youth with the opportunity to closely experience parliamentary work and acquire the knowledge, expertise, and skills necessary to understand the roles of legislative institutions and their working mechanisms, thereby enhancing their active participation in public and political life.
Since its launch, the project has also benefited 460 young men and women, providing them with the opportunity to gain practical experiences that contribute to developing their capacities and expanding their participation in public and political work tracks.
