Amman, Nov. 25 (Petra) -- The Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), under the patronage of Princess Basma Bint Talal, Chair of the Commission’s Board of Trustees, on Tuesday launched the 2025 National Campaign to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls.

The campaign is part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence movement, organized in cooperation with UN-Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Addressing the opening ceremony, Princess Basma emphasized the importance of this international campaign in which governments and civil-society organizations unite worldwide to confront violence against women and girls.

Attending the event alongside Social Development Minister Wafaa Bani Mustafa and several parliamentarians, Her Highness said the world has recognized violence against women and girls as one of the most pervasive human-rights violations, noting that its forms continue to evolve with modernity in ways that contradict human and moral values and allow it to spread rapidly into the lives of women and girls without barriers or oversight.

Princess Basma drew attention to the irresponsible use of social media and digital communication technologies globally, which have become platforms for targeted violence against many groups, particularly women and girls, posing direct harm to communities, their values, and their cohesion, and violating freedom of expression.

Her Highness added that digital violence has become an extension of societal violence affecting communities worldwide, as evidenced by national studies, support centers, and hotlines documenting various forms of gender-based violence.

Her Highness stressed the need to confront such violence within clear legislative and legal frameworks that criminalize online extortion, threats against women, privacy violations, impersonation, and the publication of personal images or information without consent.

Princess Basma expressed appreciation to national and international partners, including the JNCW, the National Family Protection Team, the National Cybersecurity Center, the Cybercrime Unit, UN-Women, and the UNFPA, for their efforts in transforming technology into a tool of empowerment rather than harm and ensuring a safe digital environment for every woman and girl.

For her part, JNCW Secretary General Maha Ali said this year’s campaign, launched under the slogan "Safe Space," reinforces that the digital sphere must be secure for all, especially women and girls. She stressed the shared responsibility to protect their rights and dignity and to ensure legislative, institutional, and societal environments that guarantee safe digital engagement.

She added that the campaign aims to raise awareness about digital violence, its forms, impacts, and response mechanisms, highlight relevant legal frameworks and consequences for perpetrators, and educate women and girls on safe digital practices and protection tools.

Ali noted the JNCW has developed a national calendar and a program of 120 activities to be implemented across all governorates by members of the National Family Protection Team, the Sham'a (candle) Network, and partner organizations. These include awareness messages and videos on forms of digital violence, reporting mechanisms, available support services, and official communication channels.

In turn, National Family Protection Team Chair and Secretary General of the National Council for Family Affairs Mohammad Miqadadi said Jordan has adopted a family-centered approach in legislation, policies, and services based on well-established national principles, chiefly the belief that protecting individuals cannot be separated from protecting their families.

He said the family is the natural framework for protection and care, yet women and girls often face physical, psychological, and economic violence within it.

He added that forming the National Family Protection Team stemmed from the state’s recognition of the dangers of domestic violence, particularly against women and girls. Jordan’s experience, he noted, has shown that protecting women and girls is essential to safeguarding the family and building strong, aware households as the foundation of a safe, development-oriented society.

UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan Sheri Ritsema-Anderson said digital technologies have generated new forms of violence and violations against women and girls, including defamation, AI-generated fabricated images, and gender-based misinformation.

//Petra// AO