The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), in cooperation with UN Women, convened a panel discussion titled “Women’s Leadership, Civic Engagement, and Social Cohesion” on 5–6 December 2025. The event brought together staff from the Ministry of Social Development, including representatives from the Women’s Directorate, the Productivity Enhancement Directorate, and the Societies Registry.
The discussion aimed to strengthen partnerships between the Ministry and civil society organizations, highlight the role of the Ministry and the Societies Registry in empowering women and advancing civic engagement, and explore effective mechanisms for enhancing social cohesion within local communities.
The session was opened under the patronage of His Excellency, the Secretary General of the Societies Registry, Mr. Nasser Shreideh, who underscored the importance of exchanging experiences and perspectives to inform policy development and address existing challenges. He emphasized the need for sustained coordination and continuous capacity building.
Mr. Ziad Al-Khasawneh, Director of the Societies Registry, presented an overview of the legislative and regulatory efforts aimed at strengthening the enabling environment for civil society and supporting women’s participation in decision-making processes. These efforts include the national framework for classifying societies, as well as proposed amendments to the Societies Law.
The legal advisor at ARDD, Mr. Rami Qweider, delivered an intervention highlighting that women’s empowerment is anchored in a clear national constitutional and legislative framework, as well as international commitments that uphold the principles of social justice and non-discrimination. He noted that these frameworks obligate both government institutions and civil society organizations to adopt practical policies and measures that ensure equitable participation for women and remove barriers to their engagement in public life. He further stressed that women’s empowerment is a national responsibility that strengthens the rule of law and reinforces social cohesion.
The session also featured practical experiences shared by Ministry staff and representatives of the Societies Registry on integrating women into community planning and decision-making roles. Participants discussed implementation challenges and formulated recommendations to enhance civic participation and social protection. The discussions emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation and the development of clear follow-up plans to ensure the sustainability of these efforts.
The panel concluded by reaffirming the importance of complementary roles between state institutions and civil society, promoting women’s leadership, and fostering an enabling environment for women’s meaningful participation in public life. Participants also identified key challenges and developed practical recommendations to advance civic engagement and social protection policies, while calling for clear action plans to monitor implementation, document outcomes, and inform future policy development.
This panel discussion was organized as part of the “Empowering Each Other” project, implemented by the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) in partnership with UN Women in Jordan, to support women’s leadership, expand civic engagement, and build more cohesive and sustainable communities.
