CDFJ report sheds light on shortcomings of distance education

AMMAN – A local report revealed that distance learning affected the right to education and proved to be insufficient as a substitution for schools and pupils.

The report indicated that distance learning faced many obstacles including the weak technological capabilities of students, lack of parents’ possession of the teaching skills necessary to follow up on the online education process, as well as the poor training of educational staff in dealing with modern technology.

The findings were made during the launch of the “On the Edge - The Human Rights Situation in Jordan 2020” report, which was prepared by the Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ) in collaboration with 16 local organisations.

The report also called for cancelling or amending administrative detention “since it represents a major human rights violation and contradicts the essence of fair trials for all.”

The report also criticised some articles in the defence laws issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, charging that they clamped down on some rights and freedoms of expression, especially for the media.

The document also addressed the death penalty and called to abolish the punishment because “it proved that it was ineffective in reducing crimes and is a violation of human rights.” 

Member of the board of directors and founder of CDFJ Nidal Mansour told the gathering that the report is part of a project aimed at introducing a new approach of tackling and improving the human rights situation in the country.

This, Mansour maintained, cannot be achieved without the unified efforts of all relevant entities that are involved in human rights, be it governmental, non-governmental, or international.

“Despite all the challenges and failures that are obstructing the human rights path, we are more determined to defend society’s rights of freedom, justice, citizenship, rule of law, equality and pay equity,” Mansour stressed.   

Mansour added that he is hopeful the report will be an essential step for the continuation of this initiative, so that it will become an annual human rights document that expresses the civil societies’ point of view and will become a reference for everyone.

The report was part of the “Change… a new approach to support human rights”, which is supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation and the European Union.

Also speaking during the event, Senior Human Rights Adviser to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan Christina Meinecke said the limited enjoyment of human rights is often the root cause of social and political unrest, sowing the seeds of violence and conflict within and between societies and nations.  

Turning to COVID-19, the UN official said the pandemic has not eased “our implementation efforts and our task in promoting and protecting rights”.

Some of the measures to combat the pandemic have infringed on personal freedoms and have enhanced existing inequalities among refugees, migrant workers and vulnerable host communities, according to Meinecke.

“We witness increases in violence against women and children, child labour as well as some restrictions of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” Meinecke told the gathering. 

The ultimate success will entail the visible strengthening and upholding of the protection of human rights in Jordan, leaving no one behind, Meinecke added.