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AMMMAN — The Embassy of Belgium in Amman, in cooperation with the United Nations, organised a special event at the Children’s Museum-Jordan in celebration of International Children’s Day on Thursday. 

The event featured an Arabic version of the “Petit Spirou Rights” exhibition, which illustrates the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through comics, according to a statement from the museum.

The event was attended by Belgian Ambassador to Jordan Filip Vanden Bulcke, acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and Representative of UN Women in Jordan Ziad Sheikh, Ambassador of the EU Delegation in Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou, UNICEF Jordan Representative Tanya Chapuisat, Museum Director Sawsan Dalaq, Representative of the Danish Cooperation Office in Jordan Andreas Thulstrup and a group of students from various schools, according to the statement.

Each guest spoke to the children about one of the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights illustrated in the exhibition’s comics, in a child-friendly storytelling style.

 “We are pleased to support the UN’s efforts in raising awareness on human rights through this art exhibition and to cooperate with the Children’s Museum to convey such important messages to children and families visiting the museum,” Vanden Bulcke was quoted in the statement as saying.

For his part, Sheikh stressed the importance of empowering children to know their rights and claim them.  “This anniversary created a momentum for the international community, including Jordan, to step up its efforts to help children thrive, and to renew the joint commitment to protect and promote all their human rights,” Sheikh said in the statement.

Dalaq welcomed the guests and expressed her pride in the cooperation, “which reflects the integrated efforts of community-based and humanitarian institutions in Jordan to raise awareness of vital issues affecting the lives of various groups in society”, according to the statement.

The Petit Spirou Exhibition featured at the event was developed by famous artists with support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and translated into Arabic by the Embassy of Belgium in Jordan. Spirou is the character chosen in 2019 to represent the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the statement concluded.

AMMAN — Following His Majesty King Abdullah’s directives during a meeting with representatives and leading figures from the Bani Hassan tribe on Sunday, Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi on Thursday visited Jerash, Mafraq and Zarqa governorates to follow up on Royal initiative projects and development issues discussed in the meeting.

During Sunday’s meeting, King Abdullah directed the government to form committees from these governorates to draw a comprehensive plan that reflects their priorities and needs.

Beginning his tour in Jerash, Issawi, who is also head of the follow-up committee for the implementation of Royal initiatives, checked on the progress of the construction of the industrial estate, where 80 per cent of the scheme has been implemented so far, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Jordan Industrial Estates Corporation CEO Omar Jwaid acquainted Issawi with the challenges facing the project if it continues as an industrial estate, including high operational costs that could hinder the attracting of investments into the facility.

The chief also visited the military retirees club project, which comes from Royal initiatives, and had a firsthand look at the final stages of the venture, which is part of a series of similar clubs nationwide that aim at presenting qualitative services to military retirees across the Kingdom. 

Heading to Mafraq, Issawi visited Al al-Bayt University, which is home to several Royal initiative projects, such as creating a business incubator, building a swimming pool and furnishing the engineering college.

He also checked on the Rehab-Dajniyyeh-Nuaimeh Bridge road, the construction of which is scheduled to begin in 2020, and visited the King Hussein Bin Talal Development Zone, which is located on a road network connecting Jordan with Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. 

In Zarqa, Issawi visited the youth rehabilitation and business incubator, based in the Zarqa Chamber of Industry, where he met with a group of young people participating in training courses, who acquainted him with the role of the incubator in encouraging their “spirit of innovation”.

Issawi also visited the sports Zarqa union club, which was established under a Royal initiative with the aim of enabling young people to play sports in a healthy environment that boosts their capabilities and skills. 

AMMAN — A three-year project titled “You have a right, a choice…claim it!”, aiming to elevate the response to gender-based violence in the Kingdom with a specific focus on women with disabilities, was launched on Thursday.

In the presence of HH Prince Mired Bin Raad, President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the King Hussein Foundation signed on the nationwide project.

In addition to enhancing the awareness and response to gender-based violence, the project also aims to educate women on their rights within marriage contracts.

The Dutch Ambassador to Jordan Barbara Joziasse said at the launch: “The promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment lies at the heart of this project and is closely aligned with the priorities of the Embassy of The Netherlands in Jordan.”

Upgrading and improving access to gender-based violence preventive and protection services will “ensure a more comprehensive response to tackling the issue”, she added.

The project was described as “holistic in its approach”, pushing to improve the institutional capacities of community-based organisations to better identify, document, assess and handle reported cases of gender-based violence.

President of the I am a Human Society for Rights of People with Disabilities Asia Yaghi said that in addition to providing legal and psychosocial support, the project will also upgrade local gender-based violence centres to become “more friendly and physically accessible” for men and women with disabilities who are “more prone to experiencing economic and social discrimination”.

Another aspect of the project is shedding light on women’s rights within marriage contracts, launching advocacy campaigns that target both men and women.

Executive Director of the King Hussein Foundation Hana Shahin said that “the timing of the launch of this project contributes to the current national movement towards enhancing gender equality and protection. We want women to be aware that they have legal rights and they are entitled to claim them”. 

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez on Thursday emphasised Jordanians’ readiness to defend the Kingdom, calling on young people to protect the Jordanian social fabric and confront hate speech.

Fayez, during a symposium held at the Jordan Chamber of Industry over the achievements of Their Majesties the late King Hussein and King Abdullah, congratulated King Abdullah and Jordanians over the decision to not renew the Israeli lease of Baqura and Al Ghamr, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the event, which was organised by the National Committee of Retired Servicemen, Fayez commended the achievements and contributions made by the late King Hussein. 

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a May  Criminal Court ruling to sentence a man to 20 years in prison after convicting him of running over his brother with his vehicle during a dispute over cutting trees in Madaba in April 2018.

The court declared the defendant guilty of running over his brother in his vehicle in front of his child on April 12 and handed him the maximum punishment.

Court papers said the defendant and the victim, who lived next to each other, had constant feuds over land ownership.

On the day of the murder, the court maintained, the defendant had an argument with the victim over cutting trees.

“The defendant jumped in his vehicle and struck his brother with the car, the victim fell down and he drove over him,” the court documents said. 

The defendant then went to his uncle’s house to inform him of what had happened, the court papers said.

“The defendant then headed to the nearest police station and turned himself in,” according to court papers.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians, the court papers said.

The defendant did not appeal the verdict, and the Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the sentence.

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court proceedings were accurate and that the defendant was given the appropriate punishment.

The Cassation Court bench comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Saeed Mugheid, Hammad Ghzawi and Naji Zu’bi.

AMMAN — Following His Majesty King Abdullah’s unannounced visit to the Jamil Tutanji Hospital earlier this month, the facility witnessed the addition of new specialisations, Hospital Director Amin Maaytah said on Thursday.

There was a quick response to the directives His Majesty made during the visit, which was followed by several visits by Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi and other officials, Maaytah added, as reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The hospital now employs kidney, heart, nose and throat, nerve and ear and anaesthesia specialists, the director added. During his visit, King Abdullah instructed the government to carry out expansion work at the hospital, which will cover the intensive care and neonatal intensive care units. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday sent a cable to Lebanese President Michel Aoun congratulating him on his country’s independence day, a Royal Court statement said.

In the cable, His Majesty wished President Aoun good health and the people of Lebanon further progress and prosperity.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah has sent a cable to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, congratulating him on assuming his term.

In the cable, King Abdullah expressed keenness to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation between Jordan and Sri Lanka, wishing President Rajapaksa success and the people of Sri Lanka further prosperity and progress, according to a Royal Court statement.

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Wednesday expressed Jordan’s appreciation for the statement issued by the 10 elected UN Security Council (UNSC) members, which reaffirmed the illegitimacy of Israeli settlements and rejected them as a breach of international law that threatens the two-state solution and undermines peace prospects. 

Following the announcement at the end of the UNSC session, Safadi tweeted: “We appreciate position of #UNSC elected members today reaffirming illegality of settlements under Int’l law & SCrs. Settlements jeopardize 2-state solution. Israeli PM announcement he’ll proceed with annexing J V in occupied W B amounts to announcing killing all peace prospects.”

The 10 UNSC members called on Israel to halt the construction of settlements and adhere to its legal commitments as an occupying force.  

“There can be no comprehensive peace without an end to the occupation and fulfilment of the Palestinian people’s rights to freedom and statehood,” Safadi said in a Foreign Ministry statement. 

The UNSC held its session two days after the US announced its shift in policy on the illegitimacy of settlements and their breach of international law. 

Earlier in the week, the foreign minister stressed that “nothing can change the illegitimacy of settlements”, which have been denounced by the international community. 

Safadi warned of the threat posed by the shift in US policy on settlements and its impact on peace efforts at a time when the peace process is facing “unprecedented threats” as a result of unilateral Israeli policies and actions that impede the chances of a resolution to the conflict. 

“The occupation’s… abuse and breach of international legitimacy will not achieve peace or ensure security and stability,” Safadi said. 

AMMAN — The decisions and procedures announced by the government regarding the merging and cancellation of various independent commissions are tied to legal procedures that require law amendments, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said on Wednesday. 

Adaileh stressed that the merging and the cancellation require completing legal and constitutional procedures as part of a comprehensive process the government has undertaken since the Cabinet issued the decision, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The Legislation and Opinion Bureau President for the Cabinet Fidaa Hmoud said that merging the Jordan Hijaz Railway Corporation (JHRC) into the Ministry of Transport “does not contradict” the Constitution and “does not affect” the nature of the waqf (Islamic endowment).

Referring to Article 107 of the Constitution on waqf affairs, Hmoud said that a merger requires an amendment to the Transport Law, which adds a special text to create an account or independent fund for organising the affairs of the railway. 

Article 107 reads: “The organisation of the affairs of Muslim Waqfs and the administration of their financial matters, among other matters, shall be regulated by a special law.”

Hmoud stressed that merging the JHRC with the Transport Ministry “does not change” the legal status of the corporation, being a waqf, as long as this procedure is mentioned in the law, so as to conform to the Constitution. 

While announcing the second executive package to improve the national economy, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Monday said that to address managerial and administrative shortcomings, eight institutions have been either merged with other entities or cancelled altogether, and that ministries have one month to organise these changes.

The institutions include the Jordan Meteorological Department, which has been merged with the Ministry of Transport as one of its directorates, the Water Authority of Jordan, which has been merged with the Water Ministry and the Securities Depository Centre, which has been suspended with its tasks relayed to the Jordan Securities Commission and the Amman Bourse.