AMMAN (JT) — HRH Princess Basma has commended the efforts exerted by members of the Jordanian National Forum for Women (JNFW) to promote the advancement of women, expressing pride in the organisation and optimism in its role in the next stage.

During the forum’s first council meeting on Tuesday, Princess Basma emphasised the importance of strategic planning, based on the forum’s vision to support the advancement of women, economically, politically and socially, the Jordan news Agency, Petra, reported.

She highlighted the need to draw up new priorities and programmes based on the forum’s objectives through coordination with other specialised women’s committees.

The Princess also stressed the importance of training and empowering young women in order to sustain the activities of the forum and bring about new changes and methods of work.

Chaired by Princess Basma, the JNFW is currently the most wide-spread grassroots women’s movement in the Kingdom. Its members advocate for women’s rights and increased women’s participation in decision-making processes.

The JNFW’s activities also include awareness-raising, training and programme, which focus on political participation and environmental issues.

During the meeting, Senator Mai Abul Samen, who is the JNFW secretary general, briefed the attendees on the forum’s achievements since its establishment, noting that the forum has proved its presence through its networks spread across the Kingdom.

Through these networks, marginalised women’s groups have been able to better themselves economically, socially and politically by gaining new insight and awareness about their rights and obligations as citizens and the importance of their participation and integration in  public life.

Over the past few years, the JNWF held several workshops and training sessions in addition to campaigns to raise women’s awareness of the need to participate in parliamentary and municipal elections.

Council members presented new ideas to enhance and build on the forum’s achievements and change the stereotype image of women through media campaigns to acquaint the community with successful Jordanian women.

They stressed the importance of training women and providing them with management skills to launch and manage projects, so they do not to remain completely dependant on support programmes and financial assistance.