Roundtable discussion encourages youth participation in policy-making

24 November 2022. On behalf of Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa, the ministry’s Secretary-General Barq Al-Dmour attended a recent roundtable discussion hosted by the West Asia-North Africa (WANA) Institute to increase young people’s skills in advocating for the elimination of barriers confronting young women and persons with disabilities in the Jerash and Ajloun governorates.

The five-year program, titled “Towards Inclusive Participation of Vulnerable Women and People with Disabilities in Social and Economic Life”, conducted in partnership with IM, a Swedish development partner, equipped 21 young people (ages 20 through 33) with the necessary skills to develop analytical reports and practical solutions for pressing issues that contribute to the social and economic exclusion of young women and persons with disabilities in Jordan.

Throughout 2022, the target group was provided with sessions on critical thinking, writing, communication, research, creativity, problem-solving, presentation, and leadership skills.

During the roundtable session, the participants presented five policy papers that provided recommendations to policymakers on the rights of vulnerable women and people with disabilities in their local communities.

The papers addressed the following topics: drop-out rates of students with disabilities from public schools; public transportation and its impact on the economic participation of women in Jerash; water supply in the domestic sector and its impact on women; accessibility of tourist facilities at Ajloun Castle and Mar Elias Hill for people with motor and visual disabilities; and barriers facing women working on micro-projects.

Participant Khitam Qawazha, who has a visual impairment, said: “My participation in this program developed my skills in writing policy papers and enhanced my knowledge of laws and agreements related to persons with disabilities.”

Another participant, Ali Al-Mahasneh, said: “I have become more able to identify the problems, and needs facing marginalized women and people with disabilities in my local community, and I have also acquired the ability and skills needed to write policy papers. The training added a lot to my knowledge and experience.”

WANA Project Manager Hayat Al-Shoubaki said: “The discussion session allowed the participants to present recommendations to stakeholders from the public sector and civil society.”  “This achieved one of WANA Institute’s main goals, which is to raise and communicate the voices of young people to decision-makers and enhance their capabilities to develop evidence-based policy papers using scientific research”.

IM Swedish Development Partner's Program Manager Ghaith Al-Shukairi said: “The brilliant style of this program has resulted in many policy papers that focus on vital issues facing women and persons with disabilities”.

“By strengthening the relationship with partners, and working directly with local communities, IM Swedish Partner seeks to develop a strong and democratic civil society by focusing on social and economic justice for humans and youth,” he added.

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