The University of Jordan (UJ) hosted the national conference Jordanian Youth in Political Modernization: Young Parliamentarians as a Model, organized by Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development, RASED. The event was held under the patronage of Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent Election Commission Eng. Musa Maaytah, with the participation of UJ President Prof. Nathir Obeidat, EU Deputy Ambassador to Jordan Angela Martini and Founder and General Director of Al-Hayat Center RASED Dr. Amer Bani Amer, alongside young parliamentarians, policymakers and experts.

Coinciding with International Human Rights Day, the conference aligned with national efforts to advance the political modernization process led by His Majesty King Abdullah II, placing youth at the heart of democratic transformation. In his opening remarks, Maaytah reaffirmed that the rule of law is the foundation of any genuine democracy, noting that the Political Parties Law plays a central role in organizing party life and ensuring balanced representation. He also highlighted the Independent Election Commission’s I Participate programme as a key platform for engaging young people in public life and underscored the importance of expanding the presence of youth and women in parliament.

Obeidat stressed that meaningful change begins with knowledge, adding that empowering young people, who constitute more than forty percent of Jordan’s population, is a national responsibility. He pointed to ongoing efforts at UJ to review academic programmes and teaching methods to foster critical thinking, analysis and innovation, calling on students to serve as active partners in building a modern, knowledge-driven state.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Martini emphasized that political participation is a fundamental human right and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting initiatives that bring young people closer to public institutions. She noted that the joint programme implemented with RASED and the Independent Election Commission has provided young MPs with a structured space to discuss the challenges they face and contribute more effectively to political life.

Bani Amer highlighted the role of universities as vibrant spaces that nurture political awareness and youth empowerment, describing the University of Jordan as a leading model of constructive dialogue and engagement on campus. During the conference, RASED presented the results of a field study on youth participation in parliament, which produced sixteen recommendations, including measures to enhance institutional support for young MPs, strengthen youth leadership within political parties and improve mechanisms for assessing legislative impact.

A discussion session titled Youth and Parliament: Rebuilding Bridges of Trust and Influence, with the participation of several young MPs, explored ways to reinforce the role of youth in legislation and oversight. The conference concluded with a collective call to sustain national and institutional efforts to integrate young people more fully into the political modernization process, as essential partners in national decision making and in shaping Jordan’s democratic future.