Amman, December 17 (Petra) – Minister of Social Development, Wafa Bani Mustafa, met on Wednesday with Qatari Minister of Social Development and Family Affairs, Buthaina Al-Nuaimi.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 45th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and the high-level Arab conference on implementing the declaration issued by the Second World Summit for Social Development, which is being held in Amman.

Bani Mustafa emphasized the "deep-rooted" Jordanian-Qatari relations, noting the two countries' efforts to strengthen joint Arab action and develop social development policies.

Bani Mustafa also called for exchanging mutual expertise in the field of social programs provided to the most vulnerable groups, highlighting the importance of learning from experiences and the best practices in the social services area.

Bani Mustafa reviewed Jordan's experience in several social fields, mainly steps to "professionalize" social work, which was based on the Social Development Law.

The minister added that this process aimed to regulate the social work profession and improve quality of social services, which would benefit target groups.

Discussing the legislative frameworks governing the social work profession, she noted enactment of legislation related to social work was preceded by consultations with Jordan's universities, civil society organizations, and the voluntary sector.

In turn, Al-Nuaimi expressed her appreciation for the Jordanian ministry's efforts in various social fields, expressing hope for strengthening bilateral cooperation.

In a related development, Bani Mustafa met with Tunisian Minister of Social Affairs, Issam Al-Ahmar, to discuss bilateral cooperation prospects in the social services field.

During the meeting, Bani Mustafa went over several social programs offered to the most vulnerable groups, particularly the ​​alternative housing field, efforts to integrate and empower people with disabilities, expansion of early intervention and day centers in the Kingdom.

In this context, Bani Mustafa referred to the important role of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mired bin Raad, in providing programs and services for the target groups.

For his part, Al-Ahmar expressed his appreciation for the Kingdom's hosting of the 45th session of the Council of Ministers of Social Affairs, calling for learning from the experiences of the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development in providing social services and future cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

//Petra// AG