The Higher Population Council (HPC), in cooperation with UNFPA, held today an awareness workshop for media professionals on population and development issues and integrating the population dimension from a gender perspective in national and local plans.
Assistant to the Secretary General of HPC, Rania Al Abbadi, noted that the workshop reflects the firm belief of HPC in the supportive role of media for population and development issues by raising community awareness, advocating decision-makers and championing these issues. Abbadi highlighted the need for competent, professional and comprehensive population-focused media, given that the way the media currently handles population issues is still below the required standard.
On the other hand, Director of Population and Development Programs at UNFPA, Layali Abu Sir, stressed the importance of allowing media professionals greater access to information, enhancing their awareness and capabilities, and engaging them in national efforts to assume their vital role of supporting these issues.
In her remarks, HPC Media and Communications Director, Itaf Al-Hadid, stated that the workshop aims to increase the awareness of media professionals about population and development issues, and the importance of integrating a population dimension into national and local plans from a gender perspective, thereby better enabling media professionals’ to promote the vision and goals for population and development and send out professional and effective awareness messages to transform opinions, behaviors and attitudes of community members on population and development issues.
During the workshop, HPC Programs Unit Director, Dr. Sawsan Al-Da'ajah, gave a presentation on population and development issues in Jordan from a gender perspective, as well as the demographic opportunity and policies for achieving and investing in it. In addition, HPC chief researcher, Ghaleb Al Azzeh, gave a presentation on integrating a population dimension in national and local strategic plans, while Layali Abu Sir overviewed the role of UNFPA in supporting population and development issues in Jordan. The workshop also included a specialized session to discuss the role of media professionals in supporting population and development issues, moderated by HPC media coordinator, Ahmed Ghrezat.
