Statement by ACHRS On the 17th session for the UPR Working Group/ Review of Jordan
Amman Center for Human Rights Studies seizes the occasion of comprehensive periodic review of human rights situation in Jordan on 24/10/2013, which is the second time that the Human Rights Council reviews the human rights situation in Jordan, to remind Member States of the United Nations and other members of the international community that Jordan failed to comply with the recommendations of the Member States of the Council for the first review, which took place in 2009, and confirms that the main reason behind Jordan’s failure to implement the vast majority of those recommendations is that the civil society in Jordan did not make the required effort to pressure the government towards it. Furthermore there is no specific mechanism recognized among human rights organizations in Jordan to work in this direction.
The Member States of the international community has not made the necessary effort to put pressure on Jordan in this direction. Amman Center for Human Rights Studies stresses that the recommendations relating to Jordan issued by the Human Rights Council in 2009, and those to be issued at this session, constitute an important and pivotal basis to improve the human rights situation in Jordan, especially with regard to anti-torture, stopping the policy of impunity followed by the government in the face of those involved in committing it; equality between men and women; amend the electoral law in line with international human rights standards; spread freedom of opinion and expression; abolition of the State Security Court; ensure humane treatment for those in custody and deprived of their liberty in accordance with United Nations standard, protect the right of the migrant worker and their families.
The Center confirms that these recommendations will not play their role if the experience of the first comprehensive periodic review is repeated, especially if there were no efforts to put pressure on Jordan and follow-up on the implementation of these recommendations through clear and accurate strategies and action plans set and implemented by the civil society in cooperation with the concerned parties for each of those recommendation. For those reasons the Council calls upon the Member States in the Council to take this matter into account, and emphasize to Jordan that its previous attitude of the recommendations of the Council is not acceptable to be repeated this time, and that it should cooperate with the institutions of civil society to develop strategies and plans to remove the challenges that prevent putting the recommendations adopted by the Council into practice.
Finally Amman Center appreciates the positive steps made by Jordan during the past four years in the field of constitutional amendments and the formation of an independent body for the elections and the protection of the rights of people with special needs, and the children rights, and the fight against human trafficking,.
Geneva, 24th Oct. 2013
12:30
