Security, rights, freedoms ‘a fixed equation’ — House speaker

AMMAN — Jordan will overcome the current pressing challenges, as it has survived multiple circumstances harsher than the current ones, Lower House Speaker Ahmed Safadi said on Sunday.

Addressing the "Impacts of the Comprehensive Modernisation on Human Rights Status in Jordan" conference, which was launched by the Al Hayat Centre (RASED), in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation STIFTUNG (FNF) and office of the government coordinator for human rights, Safadi said that the Kingdom enjoys stability.

The Hashemite monarchy has national, historical and religious legitimacy, he said, adding that the Jordanians, the army, the security apparatuses and various other institutions are inalienable when it comes to national security, stability, the rule of law and the prestige of the state.

Safadi drew attention to the importance of the title of the conference amid the circumstances that the country is experiencing. 

He also pointed out that security, rights and freedoms — all of which promote active citizenship and guarantee rights and duties for all — represent “a fixed equation”, as the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, but without tampering with the prestige of the state or destabilising the homeland.

Safadi called for institutionalising human rights reports and maintaining transparency when responding to these reports.

The Lower House will consider the outputs and recommendations of the conference in a way that serves the ultimate interests of the country, he said, pledging to keep the parliament doors open to civil society institutions.

Government Coordinator for Human Rights at the Prime Ministry Nathir Awamleh said that comprehensive modernisation is a key national project that can enhance the human rights system, noting that human rights are universal and inalienable.

FNF regional director Jörg Reinhardt highlighted the foundation's efforts towards supporting human rights worldwide, pointing out that there is no real democracy without human rights.

The conference falls within the foundation's operations meant to highlight the economic and political impacts of comprehensive modernization.

Abdullah Abdo, coordinator of the FNF's Jordan Programme, noted that the event featured 200 young men and women from different governorates of the Kingdom to get their recommendations regarding the challenges that they are experiencing from their “young point of view”.