Jordan: Watchdog reports 'insignificant' improvement in human rights situation

The human rights status in the Kingdom in 2010 did not see any significant change compared to the year before, remaining below expectations, according to a report issued by the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR).

Issued for the seventh year in a row, copies of the report were sent to Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, Senate President Taher Masri and Lower House Speaker Faisal Fayez.

“The climate of opression and corruption that has prevailed for many years opened the door wide to violations of human rights in the form of restrictions to public freedoms, weaker participation in public life and the decision-making process,” said NCHR Chief Commissioner Adnan Badran at a press conference to launch the report.

He underlined that security and stability cannot only be secured through security agencies; rather, he said, achieving social and political justice and the separation between the legislative, executive and the judicial authorities in accordance with the Constitution creates sustainable security and stability via public awareness and political maturity.

Badran reiterated that the NCHR supports the political developments in the country and the public’s demand for reform, adding that the demonstrations and protests contribute to institutionalised democracy and places pressure on the government to respond to people’s demands.

The report criticised the temporary elections law and called for a new law that adopts a mixed electoral system, under which citizens can vote for a candidate in the constituency and a second vote for a proportional list at the governorate level, adding that the controversial sub-districts have to be geographically identified by a law rather than by a by-law.

“The centre has been calling for the set-up of an independent entity overseen by the judiciary to manage elections in the future. This has to be preceded by a new elections law that ensures proper representation of all citizens under the Dome,” Badran said.

Outlining the report’s findings, NCHR Commissioner General Muhyiddine Touq said the year 2010 almost saw no change in the human rights status, adding that the various governments have failed so far to respond properly to the recommendations over the human rights situation in the Kingdom listed in the centre’s previous reports.

However, the NCHR announced that recently the government decided to form a joint committee with the centre to coordinate and follow up on the recommendations made by the rights watchdog.

According to the 143-page report, the centre in 2010 received 85 complaints against police centres compared with 51 in 2009; meanwhile the number of administrative detainees last year dropped to 12,345 compared with 16,050 in 2009 and 14,046 in 2008.

On the other hand, said Touq, the number of citizens arrested by order of governors continued to increase, amounting to 3,027 cases in addition to 5,004 detainees at the order of the State Security Court, surpassing together the number of citizens sent to jail following a court ruling.

With regards to the right to medical insurance, the report said that 82 per cent have medical insurance of different forms, adding that the remaining 12 per cent receive medical insurance at the expense of other parties, mainly the Royal Court.

On the issue of citizenship, the centre said 148 citizens complained to the centre that the Civil Status and Passports Department cancelled their national numbers compared with 38 in 2009 and 64 the year before.

Date: 14 March 2011

Source: Jordan Times