In recognition of her role in promoting human development

issues with special emphasis on women's rights, Princess Basma has been invited by leading United Nations agencies to join other international figures in representing them and furthering their causes:

  • In December 2001, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) appointed Her
    Royal Highness Princess Basma, as Goodwill Ambassador. UNFPA’s Executive Director, Thoraya Obaid on announcing the appointment stated, “Princess Basma’s dedication to the health and well-being of women and children has inspired many who work in his field, and helped improve the quality of life of women and children not only in Jordan, but also in the Arab region and the world.
  • Princess Basma was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in 1995. Noeleen Hezyer, Director of UNIFEM, announced the appointment of Her Royal Highness at an event in New York saying, "There is much work to be done, as we seek to help women in developing countries transform their lives. The Princess brings vast knowledge of the needs of women in Jordan and the Middle East, and will play a key role in our efforts to bring the voices of these women into the international forum."

  • In 1993, Princess Basma became an Honorary Human Development Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and in this capacity has launched a number of initiatives on the national, regional and international levels.

  • Princess Basma has also played an active role in promoting the work of many other international organizations, by supporting their contribution to the development process and in highlighting the need to advance sustainable human development and social equity.

  • In June 2001, Her Royal Highness Princess Basma was elected to the Board of the Olave Baden-Powell Society (OB-PS). The OB-PS provides support for the vital work of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). It also recognises and honours individuals throughout the world who have made significant contributions. As the largest Voluntary Organisation for girls and young women in the world, WAGGGS comprises around ten million members based in 136 countries. Her Royal Highness's involvement seeks to help strengthen co-operation and understanding between the society and the Arab region.

  • In February 2001, Princess Basma became a Member of UNESCO's International Jury "Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity." The Jury recommends to the Director-General of UNESCO spaces or forms of cultural expression to be proclaimed by UNESCO as "masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity." These represent either a strong concentration of the intangible cultural heritage or a popular and traditional cultural expression that is remarkable from the historical, artistic, ethnological, sociological, linguistic or literary point of view. This initiative stems from the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972). The first proclamation of masterpieces took place in Paris in May 2001 in which Princess Basma participated.

Princess Basma during an extraordinary meeting of the International Jury
for the Proclamation of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage in
Elche, Spain
  • In January 2001, Her Royal Highness became a Member of the International Advisory Board of the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW). ICSW is a global NGO, which represents a wide range of national and international member organizations that seek to advance social welfare, social development and social justice.

  • In December 2000, in light of Princess Basma's active role in human development, and strong commitment to voluntary work, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan invited Her Royal Highness to act as the Honorary Person of the International Year of Volunteers 2001.

  • In 1998 and for two years, Princess Basma became a member of the UNESCO Scientific Committee for the World Culture Report, which provided advice on the themes and on policy and action reports for the preparation of the biennial report. Princess Basma's own contribution to the Second World Cultural Report is entitled: "Respecting the Cultural Diversity of Local Initiatives."

  • Princess Basma was also a member of UNESCO's Culture and Development Steering Committee (1996-1997). The Committee was entrusted with providing guidance on the general strategy for the follow-up to the Report of the World Commission on Culture and Development.

  • In 1998, Princess Basma became a member of UNESCO's International Panel on Democracy and Development. The task of the Panel was to advise the Director-General of UNESCO on the implementation of programmes which support democratisation as a basis for human rights and participation in development.

  • In February 1998 Princess Basma joined an imminent group of international specialists as a member of the Honorary Board of Green Cross International (GCI). Founded by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993, and building on the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the mission of GCI is to help create a sustainable future by cultivating harmonious relationships between humans and the environment. GCI participated in the development of the Earth Charter and its organizations are active in 21 countries.

  • Princess Basma has been a member of the Earth Council since 1996. The Earth Council is an international NGO dedicated to ensuring the follow-up and implementation of the results of the Rio Earth Summit. In 1997 Princess Basma was invited by Co-Chairmen Maurice Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev to join the Earth Charter Commission. The task of the Commission is to oversee and guide the Earth Charter through to its submission at the United Nations. In March 2000, Princess Basma took part in the meetings of the Earth Charter Commission that were convened at the UNESCO headquarters, where the Commission finalized and endorsed the Earth Charter and approved its worldwide advocacy campaign.

  • The Earth Charter is a global document that stresses the need to maintain ecological integrity and calls on governments and people's goodwill and action in this regard. It also calls for a just and sustainable socio-economic order at the national and global level, in order to foster sustainable development. The Earth Charter promotes the adoption of the principles of equity and peace.

  • In 1996, Princess Basma was invited to join the Board of Trustees for the Population Council, an international non-profit institution which aims to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations, helping to achieve a humane, equitable and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Population Council conducts research on biomedical, social science and public health issues.

  • To address and highlight health issues globally, from 1994 Princess Basma served as a member of the World Health Organization's Global Commission on Women's Health. Part of the Commission's role was to produce an agenda for action on women's health. From 1991 to 1993 Princess Basma was also a member of the World Health Organization's Scientific and Technical Advisory Group of the Adolescent Health Programme.

  • Between 1993 and 1994, Princess Basma served as a member of the High-Level Advisory Panel to the UNDP Administrator, helping to define the organization's strategies beyond the year 2000.

  • From 1995 to 1998, Princess Basma was a member of the High-Level Advisory Board to the then United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on Sustainable Development.