Amman, Nov. 30 (Petra) -- An Arab-Asian regional exchange for dialogue and peacebuilding from a gender perspective concluded in Amman on Sunday, implemented by the Al Hayat Center for Civil Society Development (Rased), the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), and the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN).

Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa, who patronized the closing ceremony, said hosting the gathering in Amman reflects Jordan’s role as a platform for dialogue and a meeting point for diverse expertise from more than fifteen countries across the Arab region and East Asia.

Bani Mustafa praised the in-depth discussions and exchange of experiences during the two-day sessions, describing the constructive engagement as a qualitative addition to ongoing efforts to bolster peace and community security.

She highlighted the significant participation of women, reaffirming Jordan’s commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda and national efforts to enhance women’s presence in decision-making positions at all levels.

She stressed that empowering women is a cornerstone of sustainable peace and inclusive development, enabling the transformation of dialogue outcomes into practical initiatives that benefit communities across participating countries.

Waseem Haddad, Program Manager for the Arab Region at KAICIID, said the exchange embodies KAICIID’s vision of strengthening dialogue among local actors and community leaders from different countries.

He noted that discussions revealed the capacity of Arab networks to present innovative peacebuilding models and underscored the importance of linking local experiences from the Arab world with those in other regions to develop shared approaches that enhance social stability and support youth- and women-led initiatives.

Mitra Modaressi, Program Manager for Asia at KAICIID, said deep historical, cultural, and religious ties between Asia and the Arab region have yet to translate into structured cooperation among women peacebuilders and influential community actors. She said the exchange fills a real gap by creating a space that previously did not exist for cross-regional engagement.

Modaressi added that bringing together pioneering women with intersecting identities and diverse cultural backgrounds offers a practical model for addressing cross-border challenges through dialogue and building more inclusive peace pathways anchored in cultural specificity. She described the dialogue as an act grounded in hope and courage.

ICAN Programs Director Melinda Holmes expressed her appreciation for the leadership demonstrated throughout the discussions, noting that women in peacebuilding networks consistently prove themselves essential partners in designing realistic and lasting solutions to conflict.

She said the joint KAICIID-ICAN exchange creates opportunities for collaboration between women-led initiatives and interfaith and intercultural dialogue frameworks, expanding the regional and international impact of sustainable peace efforts.

Director of Rased Amer Bani Amer said the exchange represents a practical illustration of the importance of cross-border collaboration in peace and community security, affirming the Center’s commitment to supporting initiatives that foster social cohesion and deepen sustained dialogue in the region.

The event was attended by Jordanian parliamentarians, representatives of international and local civil-society organizations, local leaders, and participants from women’s and religious networks and civil-society institutions from Asia and the Arab region.

//Petra// AO

30/11/2025 14:54:47