Spanish embassy, AECID, Spanish NGOs in Jordan platform celebrate IWD

AMMAN — On the occasion of International Women's Day (IWD), the Spanish embassy, the Spanish Cooperation Office AECID, and the Platform of Spanish NGOs in Jordan organised a special event in Zarqa to underscore the significance of IWD and its alignment with the Spanish cooperation’s goals in Jordan. 

The event was held at the Housewives Association/Family Awareness and Counseling Centre, with the presence of  Spanish Ambassador to Jordan  Miguel de Lucas González.

Gender equality is a core principle of Spanish cooperation, aligned with Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The goal emphasises gender equality not only as a fundamental human right but also as a key driver for building a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world, according to a Spanish embassy statement. 

International Women’s Day 2025 theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” calls for transformative actions that unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all women and girls. 

Central to this vision is the empowerment of the next generation, youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls, who are pivotal to shaping a feminist future where no one is left behind.

Representative of the Housewives Association/Family Awareness and Counseling Centre highlighted the importance of raising awareness on social issues, particularly those affecting women’s rights and empowerment. 

Spanish ambassador highlighted that this important day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in social, economic, political, and cultural fields. He also reaffirmed Spain's deep commitment to gender equality, stressing that ensuring every woman has equal opportunities to thrive in all aspects of life is essential. 

The ambassador highlighted that Spanish Cooperation is fundamentally feminist, acknowledging that democracy, peace, prosperity, and social progress can only be fully realised when women are equally empowered to participate in every sphere. 

He also took the opportunity to congratulate the Platform of Spanish NGOs in Jordan, its member organisations, the staff of the Spanish embassy, and all partners of Spanish Cooperation in Jordan for their unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality.

Laura Torres, representative of the Spanish NGO Platform in Jordan, said that in a world marked by violence and war, we also want to highlight the vital role of women in peacebuilding, from the local to the global level.

During the session titled “Empowerment Voices,” a diverse group of women shared their leadership journeys, reflecting the theme of IWD 2025. These women, who hold prominent roles in various spheres such as community work, activism, social, professional, and economic domains, discussed the obstacles they faced and the strategies they used to overcome them, the statement said.

Programme Associate at UNFPA Ghayda Beetar highlighted how role models are essential to fostering gender equality in communities and across the country, adding "These inspiring voices demonstrated the transformative power of female leadership and resilience."

The event also featured an interactive theatre performance on women’s empowerment by a youth group from Mafraq. In addition, attendees were presented with a showcase of self-employment and entrepreneurship initiatives led by women, highlighting their drive and creativity in the pursuit of economic independence.

More than 70 participants attended the event, including key stakeholders, representatives from civil society and community-based organisations, youth activists, beneficiaries from Spanish cooperation-funded projects, and members of local communities.

As part of the IWD campaign, it is vital to engage media outlets, corporate leaders, government officials, community leaders, civil society organizations, and youth. Leaders must be urged to act decisively and invest in promoting women’s rights and gender equality, the statement said.