Khaberni - The Minister of Transport, Nidal Qatamin, confirmed that the ministry is continuing to develop a modern and safe transportation system through the use of technology, implementing monitoring and tracking systems, and building effective partnerships with civil society institutions and relevant entities.
Qatamin said, during his patronage of the launch of the Women's Economy Foundation project "Safe Arrival" funded by the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, with the participation of official bodies, civil society institutions, and experts and specialists in the fields of transport and community safety, that enhancing the safety of women in public transport is not just a service issue, but a developmental and economic priority that contributes to increasing women's participation in the labor market and assisting them in obtaining jobs, in line with the International Labour Organization's directions in this context.
He announced the direction to establish a specialized unit within the Land Transportation Regulatory Authority concerned with receiving complaints from women related to the use of public transport, stating that the new unit will operate according to the best global practices in protecting women in transport systems, and will include trained staff for professional handling of complaints and reports, ensuring confidentiality, rapid response, and coordination with the relevant authorities.
He noted that the unit will rely on artificial intelligence tools in analyzing reports and data and monitoring recurring patterns, which helps in early identification of problems and risk locations and improves the efficiency of intervention and treatment, explaining that the unit will serve as a national reference for collecting and analyzing data and statistics related to abuse cases in public transport.
Qatamin explained that the initiative will be implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation to communicate with donor entities and provide the necessary support with advanced technical tools, in addition to coordination with the Ministry of Social Development and the Family Protection Department, in accordance with the regulating legislation, and in cooperation with the Oman Vision Bus Transport Project and smart transport application companies.
Former Minister of Transport, Lina Shbieb, confirmed that having a modern public transport system available to all is not a luxury, but an essential pillar of development and a supporting element for connecting citizens to job opportunities, education, services, and enhancing economic and social participation.
She said that the government has given clear priority to the development of the public transport sector, assuring that making public transport safer is a fundamental part of the overall modernization process of this sector.
Meanwhile, the CEO of the Women's Economy Foundation, Mayada Abu Jaber, explained that the project comes after a full successful year of partnership and joint work, pointing out that it will extend for the next three years, during which we will continuously work to raise awareness, build capacity and improve response, and develop tools, policies, and practices, ensuring that safety becomes an integral part of the public transport system.
She said that the next three years will see clear steps towards a safer and more respectful public transport system, explaining that the project includes training and activating the role of 11 civil society organizations, and training 2,000 women and girls, 30 percent of whom are refugees, on their rights and protection strategies in public transport.
The project also includes implementing driver capacity-building sessions, conducting an awareness campaign, and community-based educational programs.
Representative of the UN Women in Jordan, Nicolas Berniat, confirmed that the kingdom is witnessing a real and tangible change in this field, stemming from a clear will to seek positive and sustainable change.
He said: "We want to support women in public transport to fulfill their economic role," noting that the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women was established in 1983 and was presented on behalf of the United Nations to address essential issues related to women, covering 41 countries.
The launch ceremony, attended by the British Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland Philip Hall, the Director of Family and Juvenile Protection Zeid Al-Nasour, and representatives from the Belgian and Canadian embassies, Nicthon Rascont and Serene Shahin, included signing a memorandum of understanding with the Oman Modern Transport Company aimed at promoting a safe and fair environment in public transport and reducing gender-based violence against women and girls.
The launch event included two discussion sessions; the first session, titled "Challenges in Public Transport," was led by Dr. Abla Wahsh, and featured Dima Arabiyat from the Jordanian National Commission for Women, and the driver Ziad Amayreh.
The second session titled "Towards a safe and just environment in public transport," was moderated by MP lawyer Dina Al-Bashir, featuring Manal Benkirane, the representative of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in Jordan, Lt. Col. Ayman Al-Shawabkeh from the Family and Juvenile Protection Department, Obada Abu Al-Baqr from the Land Transport Regulatory Authority, and Fida Al-Shouli from the "Fida al-Watan" Association.
