Jordan

In the UK, the median age is roughly 40 years old. In the US, it is 35. In Jordan, it is 23.5. With almost 40 per cent of Jordan’s population under the age of 15, creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for its youth is an urgent, constant challenge.

One innovative organisation, Injaz, is meeting this challenge head on. Injaz, which means “achievement” in Arabic, aims to inspire and prepare Jordanian youth to compete in the global economy.

Thank you, Marian, for your warm words, … for your wise words… and for your inspiring words to us all just now. 

When I opened this conference, I spoke about the challenge ahead of us – one that we must all jointly embrace – to set in motion a "reverse domino effect" where every woman lifts another up and passes the gift of strength on. 

This morning, though you may not know it, I think you all look taller and stronger than when we started…

One woman who is looking particularly tall and strong is Maha.

(The Jordan Times, By Dalya Dajani - AMMAN) Reactions by Western communities against Arab women and families living among them after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York ranked high on the delegates’ agenda at the opening session of the Arab Expatriate Women’s Forum.

The multinational group of leading feminists and gender-equality campaigners from 19 member countries of the Arab League expressed particular concern for Arab and Muslim expatriate communities subjected to harassment.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, President of the Arab Women’s Summit on Monday announced the official launch of the Arab Women’s Organization during the first meeting of the organization’s Executive Council.

The organization, which will operate under the umbrella of the Arab League, aims to empower Arab women, encourage their participation in the development process of their respective communities and draw unified strategies to improve the status of women in the Arab World.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) In recognition of her work in promoting literacy, quality education and cross-cultural dialogue in the Kingdom and around the world, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, on Monday, was appointed as Honorary Hans Christian Andersen Ambassador to Jordan.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah attended the launch of Amnesty International’s regional version of the worldwide “Stop Violence Against Women” campaign with representatives of concerned organizations from the Middle East and North Africa as well as religious leaders attending.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Underlining the need to bolster women’s participation in public life, and in an effort to enhance inter-Arab efforts in that regard, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah attended the opening of the workshop “Women and the Law — A regional Dialogue...Supporting Voices of Change.”

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Joining around 100 students in an interactive dialogue session, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah drew attention to the importance of the broad participation of youth in economic and political development of society.

The dialogue was the second in a series which will bring together students from different parts of the Kingdom with officials, allowing youth to take an active role in issues of concern to the country at large.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah honored distinguished youth from around the Kingdom in a celebration held by the Higher Council for Youth (HCY) on the occasion of His Majesty King Abdullah’s birthday.

In his opening remarks, HCY Chairman Ma’moun Noureddine underlined the role of the council in the upbringing of youth in line with King Abdullah’s vision of achieving comprehensive development, based on involving all citizens in the development process, especially youth.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - AMMAN) As part of her initiatives encouraging youth activities in Jordan, and in support of national efforts conserving the environment, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah participated in the second Arab 'Al-Hussein Environmental and Scouts Camp,' organized in Rusaifeh by the Jordanian Environment Society.