Amman, Nov. 6 (Petra) – Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa reaffirmed Jordan’s "firm" commitment to supporting the rights of persons with disabilities and promoting comprehensive social and economic inclusion.
The minister made the remarks Thursday at the opening ceremony of the third edition of the "Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities" initiative and the Arab Productive Families Exhibition, as part of the World Summit for Social Development in Doha.
Organized by the Arab League, the event is held in cooperation with the Union of Arab Chambers and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce as part of the World Summit for Social Development in Doha.
Highlighting the Kingdom’s inclusive development approach, Bani Mustafa said enhancing independence and inclusion for persons with disabilities and empowering productive families are key pillars for building a "fair, sustainable, and inclusive" future.
Under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, she stated Jordan has established a national model for social development based on empowerment and participation.
The Kingdom was among the first countries to sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and has integrated its principles into national legislation and policies, she pointed out.
Bani Mustafa said the "full" inclusion is achieved through policy and awareness, adding that the Ministry of Social Development, in partnership with the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, launched a model for transitioning from institutional care to inclusive community-based services, one of the region’s leading applied frameworks.
She said the "Independent Living" initiative embodies the right to independence and opens "true" opportunities for dignified living and participation for persons with disabilities.
She also underscored Jordan’s growing focus on building a "productive" social economy that links social protection with economic empowerment, adding that the exhibition serves as an Arab platform for social and economic integration and reflects shared Arab solidarity.
On the sidelines of the summit, Bani Mustafa took part in a side event, themed: "Towards Inclusive Social Integration: Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities and Poverty Eradication," organized by the League of Arab States to highlight efforts to promote inclusion and enable persons with disabilities to live independently.
The minister noted Jordan’s "strong" commitment to disability rights is rooted in the Constitution and reflected in Law No. 20 of 2017 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which forms the foundation of national policies in this field.
In line with its international commitments, she said Jordan co-hosted the Third Global Disability Summit with the Federal Republic of Germany and issued the Amman-Berlin Declaration on Global Disability Inclusion, an important document promoting a human rights-based approach to development and humanitarian action.
Through this declaration, she stated Jordan reaffirms its "unwavering" commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities.
Two Jordanian family projects, one in silver crafting and another in information technology, participated in the Arab Productive Families Exhibition held alongside the Secound World Summit for Social Development 2025.
//Petra// NQ
