"WOMEN" PRESS RELEASES

Queen Noor inaugurates National Information Center for Women.

Sunday 8 March 1998

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Her Majesty Queen Noor Sunday inaugurated the National Information Center for Women at the General Federation of Jordanian Women’s (GFJW) headquarters in Amman. Queen Noor, who is the GFJW Honorary President, emphasized the importance of a "centralized information base, which would provide comprehensive data on the family, cultural, economic, social and political status of Jordanian women." She expressed her hope that the Information Center will be a national resource that will complement the efforts of all those who are involved in women’s affairs in the country and that it would be the first step towards the establishment of a regional database center on Arab women.

In her speech, GFJW President Mrs. Nujoud Fawzi said that center, which is the first of its kind in Jordan and the Arab world, comprises a research unit, a comprehensive interactive library with audio-visual aids and access to the Internet, as well as a consultation and information department. The latter will provide researchers, planners and women with information on national, regional and international organizations concerned with women’s affairs. Mrs. Fawzi concluded by thanking the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for funding the establishment of the center and the Ministry of Planning and the Mayor of Amman for their support.

Director of USAID Mr. Lewis Lucke noted that the "development and implementation of information centers for women are activities, which grew out of resolutions adopted at the 1995 UN Beijing Conference on Women." He added that "this pioneering step being undertaken by the General Federation … will enable them to monitor policies and laws, which affect women and to build the necessary network for Jordanian women to have access to information which concerns them."

The GFJW was established in 1981 as a national non-governmental organization of women’s associations, societies and individuals to enhance the political, economic and social status of women in Jordan. The Federation offers educational opportunities, vocational training and guidance in family welfare and health. It also advocates legislative reform favoring women and initiates income-generating activities in collaboration with other non-governmental organizations, including the Noor Al Hussein Foundation.

Attending the ceremony with the Queen were Minister of Social Development Dr. Mohammed Khair Mamser, Minister of Youth and Culture Talal Al-Hassan, Senator Subhiyeh Maani, the Queen’s social policy advisor Mrs. In’am Mufti, NHF Executive Director Dr. Sima Bahous and other officials.