UN Women Jordan trains members of trade unions on women’s leadership ahead of general elections

Under the framework of the regional EU-funded programme ‘Spring Forward for Women’, UN Women Jordan – in partnership with the Jordanian National Commission for Women – organized a series of trainings on women’s participation and leadership for members of trade unions and professional associations.

The series of trainings, which took place at the end of August 2015, targeted participants from different Governorates of Jordan and were held in Amman, Irbid and Aqaba. The main objective of these training opportunities was to foster effective women’s participation and increase their representation in the decision making process – especially vis à vis the upcoming general elections in national trade unions bodies. In particular, participants were trained on communication, gender mainstreaming, networking and management skills for electoral campaigning, in addition to trade unions mandate and legislative framework of action.

This work will be sustained through an ad hoc advocacy campaign to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality and equal representation in trade unions, and build support for women’s leadership and engagement in trade union structures.

About Spring Forward for Women Programme

The Regional Programme for the Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the Southern Mediterranean Region (“Spring Forward for Women”) provides a mechanism to advance the economic and political empowerment of women in the Southern Mediterranean region. The programme (2012-2016) supports women across the region, focusing on priority countries undergoing unrest, transition and reform, such as such as Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Palestine and Tunisia, to have greater influence in shaping the future of their countries while protecting their previous gains. It connects stakeholders to ensure that marginalised women in these countries receive capacity building, advocacy, information and partnerships that address the barriers that have impeded their access and engagement in economic and public lives. The programme is financed through a contribution of €7 million from the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument (ENPI) and of €1.2 million from the UN Women core budget.