By Laila Azzeh for the Jordan Times

AMMAN –– HRH Princess Basma on Wednesday underscored the significant role Arab women play in “influencing the formation of media discourse”.

In her address at the opening of the 8th Arab Women Media Conference titled, “Arab Media, Women and their Strategic Role in the Elimination of Violence”, the Princess said women in the Arab world have achieved a “distinguished” presence and “high” credibility in the field of media.

“But there is still a need for more work and support to bring about the desired change in behaviours and attitudes towards women and their causes,” added the Princess, who is the honorary chairman of the Arab Media Women’s Centre (AMWC), which was established in 1999 under her directives to empower Arab women journalists.

Princess Basma pointed out that violence has become a “global disruptive phenomenon”, whether it is community violence that people resort to for solving individual or collective conflicts instead of resorting to the law and the principles of justice and equity, “or violence that leads to the scourge of war and armed conflicts”.

She added that “violence with its various forms, motives and objectives reflects an imbalance in the principles and values of humanity”.

The Princess underlined that a free media is particularly important in today’s world due to the accelerating scientific achievements in the field of information and communication technologies.

“This doubles the responsibility of the media in formulating public opinion and promoting the values of justice, freedom and equality between human beings,” she highlighted.

Participants at the three-day conference, held by the AMWC in cooperation with Karama and the Foundation for the Future (FFF), are focusing on several issues of concern to the Arab media, including political terrorism, religious extremism and social violence.

Karama Founder and CEO Hibaaq Osman underscored the need for media women to be “vigilant” and “political” to ensure they are not mobilised to initiate wars.

She indicated that Karama, launched in 2005 to provide a framework for coordination among people working to stop violence against women, is working with the UN to ensure the implementation of resolutions pertaining to women.

Although the media is considered a profession that is fraught with dangers and difficulties, FFF Director Nabila Hamza noted that this has not deterred Arab women from being part of it.

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