Amman, July 16 (Petra)– Lower House Speaker Mazen Al-Qadi on
Thursday patronized the National Conference, “Women as Partners in
Political Modernization: Towards More Inclusive and Equitable Local
Governance,” held as part of the project “Towards Inclusive Local
Governance: Amending the 2026 Draft Local Administration Law to
Strengthen Women’s Participation.”

The conference was organized by the Rural Ambassadors Foundation for
Development and Improvement in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert
Foundation’s Amman Office, with the participation of members of
parliament, civil society organizations, women’s leaders, and local
governance representatives.

In his remarks, Al-Qadi said Jordan, under the leadership of His
Majesty King Abdullah II, has steadily advanced a comprehensive
national agenda for political, economic, and administrative
modernization, emphasizing that women’s empowerment has been an
integral part of this vision.

He noted that recent amendments to the Election Law and the Political
Parties Law have translated this vision into practical measures,
creating broader opportunities for women’s participation in political
life and strengthening their representation in the House of
Representatives.

Al-Qadi stressed that local administration is one of the most
important platforms for public participation, as it is closest to
citizens’ needs and best positioned to identify development
priorities across governorates, districts, and municipalities.

He also underscored the House of Representatives’ appreciation for
national initiatives that enrich legislative dialogue by offering
practical expertise and informed recommendations, adding that sound
legislation is achieved through broad consultation and constructive
engagement between lawmakers, civil society organizations, experts,
and stakeholders.

The conference forms part of Jordan’s broader efforts to develop the
local governance system and enhance women’s participation in public
life, leadership, and decision-making, in line with the country’s
political modernization agenda. It also seeks to promote the
principles of justice, equality, and equal opportunities while
improving the responsiveness of local councils to the needs of
citizens across the Kingdom.

For his part, Sohaib Rababa, Gender, Learning and Development Advisor
at the Rural Ambassadors Foundation and supervisor of the Rural
Women’s Forum – Equal Movement in Rural Areas since 2020, described
the conference as a new milestone in a long-standing effort to
advance women’s rights and ensure that women’s issues are effectively
addressed.

Meanwhile, Fatima Al-Qudah, representing the Rural Women’s Forum –
Equal Movement in Rural Areas, said the forum has evolved beyond a
program or a series of activities to become a space for solidarity,
learning, and collective action, enabling women to transform their
individual experiences into broader public advocacy and policy
demands.

//Petra// MF