Amman: Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa recently chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment to discuss the adoption of the Gender Equality Seal for Women’s Empowerment in the public and private sectors. The meeting included members of the Ministerial Committee, representatives from the King Abdullah II Center for Excellence, and the President of the Civil Service and Administration Commission.
According to Jordan News Agency, Bani Mustafa highlighted that the Gender Equality Seal is a national, voluntary initiative crafted in line with international standards of excellence, tailored specifically to the national context. This program is the culmination of collaborative efforts by the Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment, the Jordanian National Commission for Women, and the King Abdullah II Center for Excellence, formulated in partnership with relevant governmental and non-governmental entities.
The initiative is part of the Women’s Empowerment Strategy within the Economic Modernization Vision, aiming to motivate institutions in both sectors to foster enabling and inclusive work environments for women by improving their employment opportunities and retention. The Women’s Empowerment Strategy was launched at the end of 2022, identifying the Gender Equality Seal as a priority. A technical team led by the Jordanian National Commission for Women was established and divided into two specialized subcommittees to develop criteria for awarding the Seal to institutions in both sectors.
These teams are responsible for creating a clear framework for the Seal, which includes eligibility criteria aligned with international best practices and existing national award programs. Their responsibilities extend to coordinating among stakeholders and donors, compiling a database of institutions committed to gender equality, and identifying incentive mechanisms to promote participation.
Bani Mustafa noted that organizations will be assessed on their implementation of gender equality measures, addressing workplace gaps, and their commitment to inclusive practices. Institutions achieving the Seal will be formally recognized by the King Abdullah II Center for Excellence and will receive a certificate of appreciation.
Additionally, recipients will gain from incentives, such as 20 bonus points in the human resources criterion under the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence in Government Performance and Transparency, along with 10 points awarded to the Secretary-General or Director-General of the institution under the Distinguished Secretary-General or Director-General Award.
She concluded by emphasizing that the Seal is based on principles of justice, equal opportunity, inclusive institutional culture, gender-balanced leadership, and equitable representation in decision-making positions, all essential to achieving sustainable development.