UN Resident Coordinator Speech for International Women’s Day in Jordan

H.E. Eng. Maha Ali – Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women

H.E. Dr. Nathir Obeidat – President of the University of Jordan

Dr. Amal Al-Awawdeh – Director of the Women's Studies Center

Distinguished guests, colleagues, and friends,

It is an honor to be here today to mark International Women’s Day—a moment to celebrate the achievements of women and girls and recommit ourselves to the work ahead.

This year is especially significant as we mark 30 years since the Beijing Platform for Action—a landmark global commitment that generated the most widely endorsed and visionary agenda for advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls in history. 

Over the past three decades, we have seen extraordinary progress: poverty among women is declining, more girls are completing education, and legal reforms are strengthening women’s rights.

Yet, despite these gains, the path forward is not secure. 

Many of the hard-won victories for women and girls are at serious risk as we witness a troubling backlash—one that threatens the very foundation of the progress we have made. 

Conflicts, crises, shrinking civic space, and increased restrictions on individual freedoms have only deepened these challenges.

At the current pace, it could take centuries to close the global divide between men and women in areas like economic participation and political representation. 

This stark reality demands urgent action. 

Now is the time to accelerate our efforts and fulfill the promises made in Beijing—so that equality is not just an aspiration, but a lived reality.

A Core Priority for the United Nations

The empowerment of women and equality between men and women is central to the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. 

Equality of all is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by countries worldwide in 2015. 

No society can reach its full potential without full and equal participation of all its people, including women.

The United Nations continues to work at global and local levels to:

• Promote equal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
• End violence and discrimination through legal reforms, awareness campaigns, and community engagement.
• Increase representation of women in leadership and decision-making roles.

There have been key strides within the UN itself as we strengthened country-level support for millions of women and girls over the past decade. 

However, there is more to do within the UN as well, in order to meet our full ambitions.

This is not just a policy issue—it is about power. 

We must drive transformative change—rethinking structures, priorities, and accountability to ensure that women’s voices are not only heard but are shaping decisions at every level. 

Without such transfromative action, we cannot fully serve half of humankind.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called this the greatest human rights challenge of our time, and under his leadership, a bold acceleration plan is driving real, lasting results. 

This new, internal Gender Equality Clarion Call has been adopted by the UN. 

It requires all UN leaders across the UN System to act together, with urgency to strategically address the push back on women’s equality that we are seeing across the world. 

Achieving equality and empowerment for women and girls is not just a moral imperative—it is critical for peace, development, and economic prosperity.

Jordan’s Leadership in Advancing Women’s Rights

Here in Jordan, we see a strong national commitment to equality through the Economic and Political Modernization Visions. 

Jordan has made great strides, including:

• Expanding women’s political participation, with parliamentary representation reaching a historic high of 19.5% in 2024, surpassing the regional average for the first time.
• Strengthening women’s role in the workforce, driving economic growth.
• Implementing legal reforms to enhance protections against violence and discrimination.

These achievements align with the global agenda and demonstrate Jordan’s dedication to building an inclusive and thriving society.

Conclusion

Progress is not inevitable—it requires sustained action, principled leadership, and collective commitment. 

We must push forward with urgency and determination, ensuring that the promises made to women and girls—here in Jordan and across the world—are fulfilled.

Let this be our call to action. 

Let us work together to build a future that is equal, just, and full of opportunity for all of humanity.

Thank you.