Amman, Sept. 14 (Petra) — The Jordanian Women’s Union Institute
(Tadamon) hosted a panel discussion on Monday to evaluate the
potential impact of the United Nations’ UN80 initiative on women’s
rights and gender equality, focusing on a proposal to merge UN Women
and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Held under the patronage of Chief Commissioner of the National Centre
for Human Rights (NCHR) Jamal Al-Shamayleh, the seminar brought
together representatives from national institutions, civil society
organizations, and regional experts.

Chairperson of Tadamon’s Administrative Board Iman Al-Hussein
emphasized the need to monitor international reforms affecting civil
society, highlighting that advancing women’s rights requires
effective partnerships between national entities, international
bodies, and civil society.

Tadamon’s Executive Director Enam Al-Asha stated that while the UN80
initiative aims to streamline UN operational structures, reforms must
enhance efficacy without compromising institutional specialization,
accountability, or civil society engagement. She noted that
discussions around combining UN Women and UNFPA must be
evidence-based, stressing that gender equality, bodily autonomy, and
anti-violence efforts cannot be treated solely as administrative or
financial matters.

Al-Shamayleh affirmed that safeguarding women’s rights remains a
cornerstone of Jordan’s modernization drive, referencing recent
constitutional and legislative updates. He backed international
efforts to optimize UN efficiency but cautioned against structural
mergers or budget cuts that could dilute specialized mandates or
reduce critical services for women and girls.

Issa Al-Masarwa, Secretary-General of the Higher Population Council
(HPC), outlined the opportunities and risks associated with
consolidating UN entities and its broader impact on multilateral
operations.

The event featured presentations by gender expert Noha Muhreiz on the
scope of UN80, Randa Sneyora, Director General of the Women’s Centre
for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) in Palestine, on the importance
of specialized UN mechanisms, and Nisreen Zureiqat, NCHR Commissioner
for Promotion, on institutional reform from a human rights
perspective.

Additional contributions were delivered by Noor Al-Kubaisi (Jordan),
Fatima Zahra Wassous (Algeria), Ruba Matarneh from the Jordanian
National Forum for Women (JNFW), and Dr. Somaya Mssine (Morocco).

Participants concluded that reform evaluations must prioritize
tangible human rights outcomes over cost-cutting while safeguarding
regional civil society input within global policy discussions.

//Petra// AF