The world today, on March 8, 2025, celebrates International Women's Day under the slogan "Rights, Equality, and Empowerment for All Women and Girls”. SIGI emphasizes that sustainable development cannot be achieved without active and inclusive participation of women and girls in all fields. Women are not just complementary elements in society; they are a fundamental pillar in building strong economies and more just and inclusive communities. Studies show that involving women in decision-making positively impacts economic and social growth, as women contribute to enhancing innovation and productivity, thereby accelerating the achievement of sustainable development goals.

Despite the efforts made to enhance the role of women in all aspects of life and what is stated in the Jordanian constitution, Article 6, Paragraph 6, which says, "The state guarantees empowering and supporting women to play an active role in building society, ensuring equal opportunities based on justice and equity, and protecting them from all forms of violence and discrimination," challenges persist, particularly in political and economic fields. Despite legal and legislative updates, the weak implementation and lack of follow-up, in addition to cultural and social challenges, often hinder women's participation in decision-making positions. Therefore, achieving sustainable development requires strengthening and developing the legislation, systems, and laws that ensure fair representation of women, and removing obstacles preventing them from reaching leadership positions. Investing in women's education, providing equal economic opportunities, and empowering them digitally are essential steps toward a more just and sustainable future.

Enhancing the Presence of Jordanian Women in Political Life: A Key Pillar for Democracy and Change

"SIGI" emphasizes that women's political participation is one of the main indicators of the development of any democratic system, reflecting the state's commitment to equality and social justice. While Jordanian women have made significant strides in the political field, whether through participation in elections or holding ministerial and parliamentary positions, their representation remains limited. The lack of community support and the stereotypical image that weakens voters' trust in women's ability to lead are among the main factors preventing fair representation of women in decision-making positions.

As of 2024, the percentage of women holding ministerial positions in Jordan stands at 15.6%, compared to 84.4% for men, with a gap of 68.8%. In the Parliament, the proportion of women is 19.6%, while men hold 80.4%, with a gap of 60.8%.

"SIGI" points out that enhancing women's role in political life requires efforts at multiple levels, starting with amendments to the election and political party laws to ensure wider participation, and extending to creating a supportive environment that enables women to reach leadership positions without obstacles. Political parties and civil society organizations are called upon to empower women through training and media support, ensuring their emergence as key participants in the decision-making process.

SIGI: Women's Rights in Jordan – Legal Achievements and Ongoing Challenges

"SIGI" points out that women's rights in Jordan have witnessed significant progress over recent decades, with amendments to the Jordanian constitution and numerous laws made to ensure women's rights in various areas, including family law, protection from domestic violence, and all rights guaranteed by national legislation and international standards. These include fundamental rights in labor and education, which are essential pillars for improving the lives of women, families, children, and society.

However, there are still challenges preventing the achievement of full equality, such as certain legislative gaps that support forms of discrimination and inequality, as well as real challenges in implementation that hinder the actual benefit of these rights.

Achieving real progress requires not only legal reforms but also raising societal awareness about the importance of women's rights as an integral part of social justice and sustainable development.

Limited Women's Participation in Inclusive Development Amidst Grave Violations in Wars and Crises

"SIGI" emphasizes that despite the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which underscores the role of women in security, peace, and community-building during, and after, conflicts, it still faces challenges in effective implementation. Serious violations against women continue in conflict zones, including sexual violence and exclusion from decision-making processes and reconstruction efforts.

In the Jordanian context, despite efforts to implement the second National Action Plan for Resolution 1325, there is still a need to strengthen women's participation in peace negotiations, ensure their protection, and support their role in sustainable, inclusive development. True stability and social progress cannot be achieved without the active involvement of women in all stages of peacebuilding and development.

Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Why Do Women Still Earn Less Despite Legal Guarantees

Despite the fact that Jordan's labor law prohibits the gender wage gap for equal-value work, the gap remains persistent. Women in many sectors still earn lower wages than their male counterparts, even when their qualifications and experience are similar. According to official statistics from the Department of Statistics for 2022, the latest available data, the wage gap in the public sector is 13.9%, and in the private sector, it has reached 14.1% (with an overall gap of 10.3% across both sectors).

Studies confirm that the main factors contributing to this gap include structural discrimination in the workplace, limited opportunities for women in leadership positions, and societal responsibilities that make women more likely to work part-time or in less stable jobs.

Supporting Jordanian Women's Projects: An Investment in the Future of Families and Society to Preserve Their Existence

"SIGI" emphasizes that women’s entrepreneurship represents one of the effective solutions for economically empowering women. Despite the fact that women’s economic participation in Jordan has not exceeded 14% in its best case over several decades, these projects provide women with financial independence, help them overcome challenges related to discrimination in the labor market, and contribute to creating job opportunities and achieving local development.

However, there are difficulties in accessing financing, a lack of support networks, and bureaucratic obstacles that limit the growth of their projects. According to the Department of Statistics for the third quarter of 2024, The unemployment rate for the year 2024, according to the Department of Statistics, reached a general rate of 21.4%. The rate for females rose to 32.9%, an increase of 2.2% compared to 2023, while the rate for males stood at 18.2%, a decrease of 1.4%.

Emphasizing the Role of Jordanian Women in Technology to Build an Inclusive Digital Future

With the rapid pace of digital transformation, it has become essential for women to be part of this evolution, not only as consumers of technology but also as creators and investors, such as through innovative applications. However, women’s participation in technological sectors is still lower than expected. In Jordan, women represent 33% of the workforce in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, while only 4% hold administrative positions, and 16% hold technical positions as of 2023. Additionally, 40% of graduates in ICT-related fields are women.

"SIGI" highlights those empowering women in technology requires investing in their digital education from a young age, and enhancing training and support programs for women in fields like programming and tech entrepreneurship.

In conclusion, on International Women’s Day, “SIGI” reaffirms that empowering women in all fields is not merely a legal requirement, but a necessity for building a more just and prosperous society. Investing in women's capabilities and enhancing their participation ensures a brighter future for everyone.