Official committees review civil society’s Universal Periodic Review comments

AMMAN — The standing committee on human rights and the official drafting committee for Jordan’s report of the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights (UPR) on Thursday discussed comments, initiatives and proposals received from the civil society institutions and coalitions, as well as stakeholders.

The discussion came during a meeting at the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) that was attended by Government Coordinator for Human Rights Basel Tarawneh and Acting Secretary General of NCFA Mohammad Miqdadi.

It aimed to incorporate the proposed comments and initiatives in the national report that Jordan will discuss with the UN Human Rights Council later this year in Geneva, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Tarawneh stated that the meeting highlights the importance of the national institutions that draft policies in enhancing human rights in line with the best standards and practices in the human rights system.

He commended the NCFA’s role as a national institution that contributed to the content of the report, especially in terms of legislation, policies and practices related to family issues, social protection and combating all types of domestic violence.

The coordinator stressed that the relation between the government and the civil society institution is a “role model” that is currently being enhanced.

After reviewing Jordan’s report, the government is expected to draft executive plans to implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council.

For his part, Miqdadi stressed the importance of cooperation between the government and the civil society organisations, as well as implementation of Jordan’s international commitments in a ”cooperative” and “consultative” manner among all parties. 

A key mechanism of the Human Rights Council that is conducted every five years, the UPR includes a national review of the human rights records in all 193 UN member states.

The report focuses on the 126 recommendations the Kingdom is committed to with regards to several human rights issues.