— The regular session of the Jordanian Children’s Parliament kicked off on Saturday. The 50 members of the parliament took the oath collectively. Formed in 2019 under the Ministry of Culture, the parliament includes six members from Amman and four members from each other governorate, aged 10-17 years, with an equal sex ratio, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

Minister of Culture Ali Ayed expressed the ministry’s support for this experience as a tool for democratic education and highlighted its role in children’s engagement through instilling a culture of dialogue.

Ayman Al Barout, secretary-general of the Arab Parliament for the Child praised the efforts of the Jordanian Children’s Parliament amid the exceptional circumstances of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Barout expects the parliament members to develop useful recommendations for critical pandemic-related concerns during the session.