Amman, May 23 (Petra)– As part of her participation at the International Family Forum in Turkey, Wafaa Bani Mustafa, the Minister of Social Development and Head of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment, met with Hind Qabbat, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor in Syria, on Friday.

Bani Mustafa emphasized the depth of fraternal ties between the two countries and the significance of the efforts being made in Syria to achieve social and economic recovery, which will positively reflect on achieving stability for the Syrian people, while discussing opportunities for cooperation and joint coordination in a number of social fields, according to a press release issued by the Ministry.

Reviewing Jordan’s experience in social protection, specifically case management and service guidance, the creation of psychological rehabilitation centers for children, and programs for protection from violence and exploitation, she emphasized the significance of the family’s role in fostering social cohesion.

Bani Mustafa confirmed that Jordan is prepared to share knowledge, offer technical assistance, and commit to working together to promote community rehabilitation initiatives. Enhancing children and community care services in impacted areas, adopting local needs assessment tools, creating data systems for the most vulnerable groups, and increasing social worker capacity are all part of this.

She affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to its humanitarian responsibility towards the fraternal Syrian people at the meeting by highlighting Jordan’s humanitarian role in hosting Syrian brothers and sisters over the past few years and offering them social care, education, and protection.

The Syrian Minister, for her part, said she was grateful for Jordan’s tremendous efforts at all levels to host Syrian refugees over the past few years and that she hoped to strengthen bilateral cooperation and expertise sharing to help Syria’s efforts to achieve full social recovery.

In addition, Bani Mustafa met with Nigeria’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, Iman Suleiman Ibrahim, to discuss national efforts to protect children from violence, support and empower local associations, professionalize social work, respond to crises and social trauma, and support mental health and psychosocial support for the most vulnerable groups.

Using the experience of “Enhancing Household Productivity” in Jordan as a model for exchange, she discussed the significance of empowering women and assisting productive families through microfinance and vocational training programs, emphasizing the connection between social protection and social entrepreneurship in both Jordan and Nigeria.

Notably, ministers and family officials from 26 countries participated in the International Family Forum, which continued Thursday and Friday in Istanbul. The forum is part of the Republic of Turkey’s “Year of the Family 2025” initiative, which is sponsored by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The goal is to increase awareness of the opportunities and difficulties that families face as a result of global changes.

//Petra// MF
23/05/2025 18:20:29