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Ammon News -

Her Highness Princess Basma bint Talal, Chairperson of Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), stressed the importance of combating terrible scourge of violence, which can affect young woman anywhere in the world.

Princess Basma also highlighted need to overcome this terrible blight, as young people of both genders will have an essential role to play in raising awareness, and increasing knowledge about the issue of violence and its devastating impact on any society.

Attending on Sunday the closing ceremony of the annual 16 Days Campaign to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls, in the presence of Minister of Social Development, Wafaa Bani Mustafa, and Minister of State for Legal Affairs, Nancy Namrouqa, Princess Basma said more than 736 million women and girls have been subjected to violence at least once in their lives.

This blight comes 43 years after adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 27 years after Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and 22 years after 25 November was declared as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Princess Basma noted.

In a ceremony held at Ein Jaloot Secondary School for Girls, Princess Basma said early marriage often leads to a cycle of marital violence, and deprivation of education, life skills, and opportunities to work and pushes girls into a world of responsibilities for which she is totally unprepared.

Locally, Princess Basma said Jordan and its institutions have indeed made great strides in the fields of legislation and protection services from violence, and we hail every national, governmental, security and non-governmental institution that is dedicated to providing protection from and prevention of domestic violence.

The Princess also noted the first step begins with protecting girls from violence by arming themselves with knowledge and experience, adding that academic achievement and involvement in extracurricular programmes will give self-confidence, help to communicate, and give new skills, thus reducing chances of being targeted for violence.

Secretary General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), Maha Ali, said that the campaign's activities, which coincided with the Human Rights Day, constitute an important sign and a call for actual action to end violence against women and girls.

The link between domestic violence and other forms of violence constitute an obstacle to the progress of women in various fields, and limits their active participation in political, economic and social life, which calls for action at various levels to intensify efforts towards building healthy families and preserving their unity and sanctity, Ali added.

"Violence against women and girls continues to be the most widespread violation of human rights around the world, rooted in discrimination based on gender, social norms and stereotypes that accept violence, and has escalated in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and crises related to climate change, global conflicts and economic instability," United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Randa Abu Al-Hassan, said in speech on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jordan.

She said that Jordan, as per government's priorities, is committed to preventing violence against women and strengthening responses to mechanisms to protect women from violence.

She underlined the United Nations' commitment to work with the Jordanian government to end violence against women and girls, achieve inclusive and green economic growth, promote sustainable management of resources, and promote human rights.