Munira Al Mulla

Jordanian advocate for women's rights and political participation.

Munira Al Mulla: Breaking Barriers in Jordan

Munira Al Mulla, born in 1975 in Amman, Jordan, became a trailblazer for women's empowerment in the Arab world. In 1998, she founded the Jordan Women's Empowerment Initiative, which trained over 50,000 women in leadership and entrepreneurship by 2000. Her advocacy led to Jordan's 2003 Law on Political Parties, which reserved 10% of parliamentary seats for women.

Al Mulla's 2005 'Women's Political Academy' program transformed Jordan's political landscape, doubling female candidates in local elections. She pioneered the use of social media campaigns to challenge cultural norms, creating viral hashtags like #MyVoiceCounts. Her 2008 report Women in Jordanian Politics: Challenges and Opportunities became a UN training manual.

Despite backlash from conservative groups, she established the first women's parliamentary caucus in 2010, securing policies against gender-based violence. Her work influenced the 2014 Jordanian constitution amendment ensuring women's equal rights. By 2020, 20% of Jordan's municipal councils had female members due to her efforts. Al Mulla's global impact is seen in her role as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador since 2016, advocating for Middle Eastern women's rights.