During the virtual John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum in March 2021, Her Majesty emphasized the pandemic’s impact on women in the Middle East, explaining that they were already at a considerable disadvantage prior to the pandemic, and that lockdowns, school and daycare closures, and women’s exodus from the workplace have deepened the gender divide.
“That is really difficult for moms and their families, but we also need to remember that it’s terrible for our economies,” she said. “According to the World Bank, if we could bring women’s lifetime earnings in the MENA region to equal those of men, we could add around 3 trillion dollars’ worth of wealth to our region.”
Throughout the pandemic, Her Majesty has offered her wholehearted support to those on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19 in Jordan, joining His Majesty King Abdullah to continuously demonstrate her solidarity with the nation’s unsung heroes, and those who have lost loved ones to the deadly virus. In virtual meetings, pre-recorded messages, and small-scale in-person gatherings, she has repeatedly expressed her pride in the nation’s medical and security staff, who continue to safeguard and serve the public under extraordinary circumstances.
During periods in which infection rates were low and local restrictions were lifted, Her Majesty resumed her work with civil society organizations, providing support to small businesses, income-generating projects, and associations negatively affected by the pandemic. Throughout her programs and activities, she has emphasized the importance of vaccination, urging people to get vaccinated to protect their health and the health of those around them, and to put the nation back on the path to normalcy.
Source: Jordan News Agency