HUMAN RIGHTS IN JORDAN
The Jordanian National Charter, which was adopted in June 1991, highlights the commitment of Jordanian authorities to protect the rights, integrity and basic freedoms of the individual, as specified in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and all other international treaties in this regard. Furthermore, the Jordanian National Charter states that all Jordanian men and women are equal under the law, and that there shall be no distinction between them in rights and obligations regardless of difference in race, language or religion.
Jordanian law provides for the right to practice one´s religion freely in accordance with the customs in the Kingdom, under the condition that public order and morality are not violated. Christians are particularly well integrated into Jordan´s political and economic landscapes, with at least one Christian holding a ministerial post in every government. Furthermore, nine seats in the Parliament are reserved for Christians. Christians serve in the military, and many hold high positions in the army. The Pope visited Jordan in 2009, and was warmly welcomed by the Royal Family. The US State Department´s International Religious Freedom Report of 2009 indicated that there was no evidence which demonstrated that the practice of any faith was prohibited in Jordan. In fact, Jordan has been highlighted as a model of interfaith dialogue.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan also takes women´s rights very seriously. In 1974, women were granted the right to vote, as well as the right to run as candidates in parliamentary elections. In 1993, the first female candidate was appointed to the Parliament. Nowadays, twelve seats in the Parliament are reserved for women. Jordanian women have assumed high-level governmental positions, and have served as ministers and lawmakers. Today, Jordanian women enjoy legal equality in freedom of movement, health care, education, political participation, and employment. Freedom House recently acknowledged that the status of women in Jordan has undergone a historic transition, with women achieving a number of positive gains and new rights.
With regards to children´s rights in Jordan, education is free for all primary and secondary school students. Jordanian labor law prohibits children under the age of sixteen from working, unless they are working as apprentices. Jordan is a signatory of a number of universal conventions and treaties which protect children´s rights in all forms.
In order to ensure transparency and accountability, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan welcomes local and international human rights groups to investigate allegations of human rights abuses and publish their findings concerning government policy. Furthermore, several types of human rights establishments have been opened in Jordan, including national institutions, parliamentary committees and non-governmental organizations. NGOs working in the field of human rights in Jordan cover a wide range of areas and concerns.
Over the past few decades, Jordan has strived to place human rights at the forefront of its policies. This has particularly been the case since 2011, in light of the increased demands of Jordanians coinciding with the Arab Spring. Friendly protests in Jordan began in early 2011, following the unrest in several of its neighboring countries. Jordanians staged weekly demonstrations in Amman and other cities throughout Jordan to protest government corruption, rising prices, poverty, and high unemployment. In response, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan made a number of important changes. The Prime Minister was replaced and a National Dialogue Committee was established, consisting of leaders of political parties, lawmakers, journalists and activists, and assigned with the task of reviewing laws in Jordan to render the political system more democratic and pluralistic. The new Prime Minister was instructed to take quick, concrete and practical steps to launch a genuine political reform process and to strengthen democracy in Jordan.
In April 2011, King Abdullah II ordered the formation of a Royal Committee on Constitutional Review. The committee carried out a comprehensive review and an in-depth study of the Constitution, using the recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee as guidelines. On August 14, 2011, the Royal Committee on Constitutional Review put forward its suggested constitutional amendments. The Constitution of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which has officially been in place since January 1, 1952, was amended for the first time since 1984 and, more importantly, for the first time on such a large scale. Approximately two-thirds of the Constitution´s articles were amended. This marked a turning point in the history of the Kingdom.
Under the new provisions, any infringement on the rights and public freedoms of Jordanians is a crime punishable by law. It is forbidden for any person who is arrested or imprisoned to be tortured or harmed physically. Other important amendments guarantee freedom of scientific research and artistic activity, introduce independence of the judiciary, and establish a Constitutional Court as an independent judicial body responsible for monitoring the constitutionality of laws and regulations. An independent national commission has been established to oversee parliamentary elections, so as to ensure more guarantees for fair and transparent elections without any interference. To reinforce the role of youth in public and parliamentary life, the minimum age of candidacy for the Lower House has been reduced to 25 years. The new provisions also provide for a basic international and human principle by specifying that those who stand accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.
Amnesty International has consistently cited Jordan as the country with the best human rights record in the region. Although there is still room for improvement, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has come a long way in establishing economic and social rights for its citizens, and is ahead of many of its neighbors in this regard.