As part of the Kingdom’s preparatory activities for co-hosting the Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025, the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) organised the event 'Illuminating the Path to Diversity and Inclusive Arts' at the Jordan Museum. The event took place under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein, Lord Chamberlain at the Royal Hashemite Court and President of HCD, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Jordan.
The event was held in celebration of the birthday of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein and as part of the Kingdom’s promotional campaign for the Global Disability Summit 2025, which Jordan is co-hosting alongside the Federal Republic of Germany and the International Disability Alliance (IDA). The Summit will be officially inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah II and the German Chancellor in Berlin on 2-3 April 2025.
In his address, His Royal Highness Prince Mired highlighted the remarkable progress made in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities under the leadership of His Majesty the King. He emphasised the importance of ensuring an inclusive environment free from barriers at all societal, institutional, and service levels. He further noted that Jordan’s commitment to disability rights has led to significant advancements in policies and legislation, culminating in its selection as a co-host of the Global Disability Summit 2025, representing the Global South. His Royal Highness also commended the efforts of the Jordan Museum, recognising it as a leading national institution that has made significant strides in ensuring accessibility and inclusive practices in the fields of tourism, culture, and heritage.
The Director General of the Jordan Museum, Engineer Ihab Amarin, also explained that the museum was able to develop accessible exhibits to include the necessary accommodations that enable people with various types of disabilities, physical, visual, and hearing disabilities to enjoy what the museum has to offer.
The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Jordan, Bertram von Moltke, emphasized the importance of the Global Disability Summit because it will address the rights and lives of some 15 % of the world population. Jordan is a pioneer of disability inclusion at international level. It is therefore a great honor for Germany to be able to prepare this global event together with Jordan.
As part of the event, several persons with disabilities shared their inspiring experiences, demonstrating their determination to break down environmental and societal barriers and make meaningful contributions within the field of disability rights. Additionally, the event featured a musical performance by the National Music Conservatory Orchestra, which includes both musicians with and without disabilities, embodying the essence of inclusive and diverse arts.
The event also served as a key milestone in Jordan’s preparations for the Global Disability Summit 2025 – work that has included extensive consultations and dialogue sessions, most notably the Multi-Regional Conference held in Amman in November 2024, where Jordan welcomed nearly 500 participants from across the globe. These participants, representing governments, organisations of persons with disabilities, and disability rights advocates, engaged in discussions aimed at exchanging experiences and strengthening commitments to advancing disability inclusion across all sectors of society.
As a symbolic conclusion to the event, Prince Mired led the lighting of the Jordan Museum building, reinforcing the campaign’s central message: the right of persons with disabilities to full participation in culture and the arts.
This event is part of a cross-border media and promotional campaign launched by HCD in December 2023. The campaign commenced with the illumination of the historic Citadel site in Amman, underscoring the importance of
accessible cultural and heritage sites. Additionally, key awareness messages about disability rights and the GDS2025 have been disseminated across Arab, Asian, African, and Latin American countries.
The campaign utilises innovative and accessible communication tools, including social media awareness initiatives and creative messaging. Notable efforts include collaborating with Orange Jordan to change its network name to ‘Inclusion’ as a call to action for greater disability mainstreaming. Moreover, key messages have been displayed on the ATMs of leading banks, including the Housing Bank, the National Bank, the Arab Bank, the Arab Investment Bank, the Jordan-Kuwait Bank, and the Jordan Islamic Bank. The campaign also features promotional posters displayed on Amman Bus routes and advertising materials broadcasted on the Bus Rapid Transit stations and vehicles. Additionally, a promotional film will be screened on Royal Jordanian Airlines flights commencing in February 2025 through to early April 2025, the Summit’s conclusion.