HPC’s Secretary, Dr. Abla Amawi, stressed the need to reduce inequalities and combat discrimination in society and implement clear procedures to end extreme poverty which are important priorities in achieving the sustainable development goals.
During her two presentations on “inequality from the standpoint of the demographic opportunity” and “inequality from the standpoint of sustainable development goals” on Monday in the conference organized by UJ in cooperation with UNESCO on “inequality and urban integration in Jordan”, Amawi stated that improving the education system is the main driver of economic growth in society and investment in human capital contributes to creating a real demographic dividend. She noted that policies which rely on the human capital are in line with the sustainable development goals, especially goals 3-5 related to health, education and gender equality.
Amawi pointed out that the lower fertility rate resulting from the higher percentage of working-age population does not, in itself, bring profit to economic growth. Rather, it could lead to deteriorating economic conditions if it happens in an extremely poor educational context. She stated that population growth and age structure were not clearly pointed out in the sustainable development goals. However, reproductive health was mentioned as one of the more specific goals under the health goal.
UJ President, Dr. Abdel-Karim Al-Qudah, stressed UJ’s observance of the symbols of equity and equality as well as transparency and objectivity in providing opportunities for all through UJ’s support and care for poor groups and students and workers with disabilities in a manner that preserves their dignity and protects their rights.
Al-Qudah said that UJ seeks to have its most competent people in decision-making positions regardless of their gender or any other considerations, noting that UJ has excellent female academics and female administration officers with great skills and high level of proficiency who contributed to acknowledged achievements.
Dr. Seiko Sugita, Program Specialist at UNESCO Beirut, noted that the conference, which is the first of its kind in Jordan in the management of social transformation program organized by UNESCO, aims to strengthen the capacities of researchers specialized in the conference’s subject matter to support sustainable development on the long run.
The head of the conference’s organizing committee, Dr. Rania Jaber, stated that the conference, which will take place over three days, seeks to foster the dialogue between young experts, specialists and researchers in the field of social sciences such as social and development science, anthropology, psychology, geography, politics, economy and law. She noted that the conference focuses on addressing inequalities in urban communities in Jordan and their consequences in order to come up with policies and recommendations to reduce them.
It should be noted that a number of topics on the concept and manifestations of inequality and how to address them, the role of the social protection strategy in social integration, factors that lead Jordanian women to unregulated labor, the connection between poverty rates and unemployment and the role of social barriers in knowledge-based inequality were discussed in the first day’s two sessions.
In the sessions of the second and third days, the conference will discuss a number of themes related to urban integration issues and challenges and how to address them and setting priorities and policies related to the conference’s subject matter in a comprehensive and detailed manner.
