LocationsWomen leading political change: a Jordan-Mexico South-South dialogue
August 16, 2026
Women leaders from Jordan and Mexico came together at the University of Jordan for “Women Leading Political Change: A Jordan–Mexico South-South Dialogue,” an exchange on women’s political participation, leadership and the path from representation to meaningful influence.
Organized under the UNDP Arab States Partnership for Inclusive Rights in Elections – ASPIRE, project, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency – Sida, and in partnership with the Center for Women’s Studies at the University of Jordan and the Jordanian National Forum for Women, the dialogue brought together women leaders from parliament, political parties, professional associations, academia and electoral institutions. Jordanian alumnae of the UNDP Global Leadership Academy for Women in the Digital Era also joined the exchange, bringing the Academy’s network and peer-learning approach into the discussion.
Ruba Yassein Matarneh, an Academy alumna from the 2025 Global Edition, also played a key role in supporting the organization of the initiative and bringing the Jordanian and Academy networks together.
Jordan and Mexico have different political and institutional contexts, but both offer important lessons on the laws, institutions, alliances and leadership needed to move from formal participation towards meaningful political power.
MP Dina Al Bashir, Member of Parliament from the Mubadara Political Party, reflected on women’s participation from the perspective of parliament and political parties in Jordan. She discussed the evolution of women’s political participation, the importance of electoral and political reforms, and the role that parties and electoral systems play in determining whether women are able not only to enter politics, but also to compete and exercise influence. She emphasized the need to continue expanding opportunities for women beyond reserved seats and to strengthen their participation in political parties, legislative work and decision-making.
Dr. Aya Al Asmar brought the perspective of women’s leadership in professional institutions. As the first woman to lead the Jordan Dental Association, she reflected on the challenges of entering spaces that had historically been led by men and on the responsibility that comes with breaking such a barrier. Her experience highlighted an idea that ran throughout the dialogue: becoming the first woman to reach a leadership position matters most when it helps make the path easier for others.
“I was the first woman to become President of the Jordan Dental Association, and I decided that I would be the first, but not the last.”
Abla Abu Olbeh, Secretary General of the Hashed Political Party, placed the discussion within the longer history of women’s political activism in Jordan. She reflected on the role of women’s movements, political parties, and professional and civil society organizations in advancing women’s rights over decades. She emphasized that progress has been built through sustained organizing and advocacy and that women’s participation must extend across all levels of political and public life. She also stressed that representation should ultimately translate into women having a stronger voice in political parties, public institutions and the decisions that shape society.
The exchange also carried a strong historical connection. As Abla Abu Olbeh recalled during the discussion, Mexico has an important place in the global history of women’s rights: in 1975, Mexico City hosted the first UN World Conference dedicated to women’s rights, which helped establish a global framework for advancing equality, development and peace
Moderated by Dr. Amal Awadeh, the discussion brought these different experiences together around a common question: how can women move from being present in political and public institutions to having the power to shape them?
Participants highlighted the importance of stronger alliances among women, including across political and ideological differences, mentoring and solidarity between generations, effective legal frameworks, institutional accountability, and continued efforts to address political and technology-facilitated violence against women.
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