2004

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Jeddah) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah said despite human and natural resources, the region’s progress was too often constrained in outmoded barriers, and called on society to take a participatory approach to ensure a better life for all.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah participated with thousands of Jordanians in a national public rally pledging allegiance to the country, denouncing all forms of terror and calling for security and stability in the region.

“The silent majority decided to speak out against terrorism in a first-of-its-kind demonstration in the Arab and Muslim World at this scale,” Queen Rania told the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

What motivates you in your work?

Queen Rania: I am energized by the realisation that there is so much to be done. There is a chance to make a positive difference in the world. Nothing can be more challenging and, at the same time, more rewarding. My main goal is to pass along to the children and youth of this region a better situation than they face now. I want them to grow up with a sense of security and the knowledge that they have all the necessary tools to reach their full potential.

It’s been five years now since you’ve been Queen. If you can go back to what it was like when you first, suddenly, knew that you would be the Queen of Jordan? What kind of a shock was that?  
 

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Beirut) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, President of the second Arab Women’s Summit (2002 –2004) chaired the first meeting of the Arab Women’s Organization’s Higher Council with the participation of Arab First Ladies of countries that ratified the establishment of the AWO.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah attended the launch of Amnesty International’s regional version of the worldwide “Stop Violence Against Women” campaign with representatives of concerned organizations from the Middle East and North Africa as well as religious leaders attending.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Underlining the need to bolster women’s participation in public life, and in an effort to enhance inter-Arab efforts in that regard, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah attended the opening of the workshop “Women and the Law — A regional Dialogue...Supporting Voices of Change.”

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Joining around 100 students in an interactive dialogue session, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah drew attention to the importance of the broad participation of youth in economic and political development of society.

The dialogue was the second in a series which will bring together students from different parts of the Kingdom with officials, allowing youth to take an active role in issues of concern to the country at large.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Dublin) Building on her national and international efforts to integrate youth and women in the development process of societies, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah met Ireland’s women decision-makers and visited an urban regeneration site project for disadvantaged youth in Dublin.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah honored distinguished youth from around the Kingdom in a celebration held by the Higher Council for Youth (HCY) on the occasion of His Majesty King Abdullah’s birthday.

In his opening remarks, HCY Chairman Ma’moun Noureddine underlined the role of the council in the upbringing of youth in line with King Abdullah’s vision of achieving comprehensive development, based on involving all citizens in the development process, especially youth.