Amman, May 14 (Petra) – A regional dialogue, themed: “Enhancing Accountability for Gender-Inclusive Global Transformations: A Deep Dive into Digitalization in the Middle East and North Africa” on Wednesday kicked off in Amman, under Jordan’s chairmanship.

The two-day event is co-organized by the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) MENA platform for institutional integration of gender equality, governance, and leadership.

Engaging in the discussions, MENA representatives from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Oman, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Palestine take part, alongside OECD and partner countries such as France, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Canada, the UK, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Chile.

The dialogue features sessions with policymakers, experts, and practitioners to explore key themes, mainly integrating gender equality into digital governance, combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence, promoting women’s leadership, and enhancing institutional accountability through gender-responsive budgeting and data systems.

In her opening remarks, JNCW Secretary-General Maha Ali highlighted urgency of addressing gender equality in the context of rapid global advances in digital technology and artificial intelligence.

While these tools can enhance opportunities for women and girls in education, employment, and public engagement, they have also introduced new forms of digital violence and exclusion, which can drive women out of public spaces, she pointed out.

Ali emphasized Jordan’s “commitment” to gender equality as part of its national modernization efforts, primarily constitutional amendments to secure women’s empowerment and protection from discrimination and violence.

She also pointed to the “growing” participation of women in Jordan’s ICT sector and role of legislation such as the Cybercrime Law in supporting digital safety.

Tatyana Teplova, Head of Global Partnerships, Inclusion, and Justice at the OECD Public Governance Directorate, stressed the importance of inclusive digital transformation, adding that “without gender-sensitive approaches, digital innovation could exacerbate existing inequalities.”

Teplova called on participants to use the dialogue as a platform for building alliances and integrating technological change across the region as “inclusive and accountable” approach.

The dialogue, which aims to foster exchange of the best MENA-OECD practices, would also contribute to a more equitable and resilient digital future for women and girls.

//Petra// AO
14/05/2025 16:10:54