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AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Tuesday issued a memo to all ministries and governmental associations to implement the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights endorsed by the Jordanian government.

Director of the Prime Ministry’s Human Rights Department Khalil Abdallat reaffirmed that the government was committed to implementing the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council.

The government endorsed 149 UPR recommendations after they were reviewed by the permanent human rights committee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, he added, according to a statement to The Jordan Times.

Work is underway to formulate a plan for the execution of a clear four-year strategy with measurable objectives and a precise timeline, the official underlined.

The presentation of the UPR has helped strengthen partnerships between the government, national institutions and civil society organisations, Abdallat said in the statement.

Other components, such as corporate social responsibility will be integrated into the plan to boost partnerships with the private sector, he noted.

These endorsed recommendations will serve the interests of the nation and its welfare, by enhancing the status of human rights in Jordan, he added.

Recommendations pertaining to the status of women are generally of interest to the countries that put forward the UPR, Abdallat stressed. The same goes for child rights and the status of people with disabilities, he continued.

Other recommendations are related to torture, judicial prosecution, administrative detainment and freedom of speech, the press and opinion, among others underlined in the review, the human rights official stated.

The government has also endorsed those recommendations, the statement said.

As for the recommendations not endorsed by the government, Abdallat explained that they would be reviewed at a later time, reiterating that they are no less important.

More than 13 civil alliances, 21 individuals and 60 institutions submitted their statements to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right in one report, Abdallat highlighted.

These joint efforts, he said, lay the foundations for institutionalising human rights works in Jordan and the partnerships that support this endeavour. 

AMMAN — The Amman Chamber of Industry’s (ACI) exports increased by 16.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the same period of 2018 thanks to the regional stability, the ACI announced on Tuesday.

According to ACI statistical data, cited by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the value of the chamber’s exports during the January-March period stood at JD1.164 billion, compared with JD999 million during the same period of 2018.

Five countries accounted for the majority of the chamber’s exports during the first three months of 2019, receiving goods valued JD693 million.

India topped the list of these countries with JD198 million in ACI imports, followed by Saudi Arabia with JD145 million, the US with JD123 million, Palestine with JD118 million and Iraq with JD109 million.

ACI General Manager Nael Hussami attributed the increase to increased regional stability, growth rates in exports to untraditional markets and the “remarkable” rise of exports from six industrial sectors, including mining, chemical and food subdivisions.

The chamber’s general exports performance has improved despite challenges facing the economy, like the high use and cost of energy, mainly affecting the plastic industry, Hussami added.

In remarks to Petra, he also referred to the gradual improvement in the movement of trucks between Jordan and Iraq.

The mining sector accounted for JD363 million in exports during the first three months, chemical and cosmetic products accounted for JD254 million and medical supplies accounted for JD129 million.

Exports of food, agriculture and livestock stood at JD119 million, while the leather and garment sector exported goods worth JD107 million, according to the ACI’s data for the first quarter of 2019.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Tuesday said Jordan was proud of its innovative and distinguished young people who have a presence both regionally and globally. 

The premier's remarks came during a visit to the King Hussein Business Park where he met with representatives from emerging companies operating under the umbrella of the Entrepreneurship and Business Association (EBA), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The premier said that the Kingdom took pride 26 emerging Jordanian companies recently being declared among the 100 most promising Arab start-ups of 2019. The companies were selected by a neutral Arab party and invited to take part in the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa held at the Dead Sea earlier this week. 

Jordan has become a source of IT services, Razzaz said, highlighting the increase in the number of patents, awards and certificates of appreciation earned by the Kingdom. 

President of the EBA Mohammed Shaker highlighted the goals of the association, which was established about nine months ago, to bring together entrepreneurs and pool their efforts in entrepreneurship, business and investment.

Razzaz listened to entrepreneurs' experiences and met with representatives of companies including Oasis 500, Chains Trading Company and Repzo among others, and commended their work to support economic development as well as create distinguished job opportunities for young Jordanians.

AMMAN — The two chambers of Parliament on Monday endorsed amendments to the Personal Status Law (PSL) setting the marriage age in exceptional cases at “turning 16 years old”, which can be legally applied a day after completing 15 years of age.

In a joint session headed by Senate President Faisal Fayez, following a dispute between the Lower and Upper Houses over the bill, the two houses also voted against including the children of a daughter who died before or at the same time of her father in the “mandated will”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The joint session resulted in adopting the version of the bill endorsed by MPs.

The 2010 temporary PSL allowed marriage exceptions for minors who had completed the age of 15, while the amended version endorsed by the MPs late last year allows those who “turned 16” to tie the knot; a change in terminology which meant that, in reality, turning 16 means that the law can be applied only one day after the completion of age 15.

Senators rejected the amendments referred by the Lower House, insisting on raising the age of marriage in exceptional cases to the completion of 16 years of age, and also amended a clause related to the “mandated will” or “wasiya wajiba”, by giving inheritance rights to grandchildren born to female children equally with male children, as this right is currently given only to male children.

The legal age of marriage in Jordan is 18 for men and women, but the law allows for several exceptions for girls aged 15 and above, if a judge deems it in their best interest.

The law stipulates that the judge can approve the marriage of minors when such marriages are considered a necessity to achieve public interest after ensuring consent and free choice.

The marriage contract should be under regulations issued by the judge, provided that the married couple is considered fully competent in all issues related to marriage and divorce. 

According to the Chief Islamic Justice Department’s official statistics, there were 77,700 marriage contracts issued in 2017, of which 10,434 (some 13.4 per cent) involved marriages in which the wife was under the age of 18.

AMMAN — The Syrian authorities will release eight Jordanians detained in Syria, the Syrian embassy in Amman announced on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry said it received an official notice from the embassy confirming the Syrian authorities' decision to release eight out of more than 30 Jordanians arrested in the northern neighbour, a ministry statement said.

Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah said that the notice included the names of the Jordanians to be released, which included three citizens who have been detained since the reopening of the border crossing in mid-October, four who have been arrested before the reopening and one Jordanian who has already been released, and measures for whose return to the Kingdom are being processed by the Jordanian Embassy in Damascus. 

This decision has been taken days after the ministry summoned Syrian Chargé d’Affaires in Amman Ayman Alloush for the fourth time and demanded that the Syrian authorities release the Jordanian citizens who have been held without providing clear reasons for their arrest.

Qudah expressed the Kingdom’s gratitude for the Syrian government’s response, stressing that the ministry is continuing to follow up with Damascus, through the Jordanian Embassy and the Syrian embassy in Amman, to release the other detainees and identify the locations where they are being held, as well as allowing them to receive visits from the diplomatic mission of their country, as stipulated in international laws applicable in such cases.

Since the reopening of borders in mid-October, Syrian authorities have arrested more than 30 Jordanians, who, according to the ministry, head to Syria for tourism and are arrested by Syrian authorities without providing clear reasons for their arrest.

Alloush pledged last week to follow up on the issue with his country’s concerned authorities and to provide an answer within the coming days, expressing his understanding for the “legitimate” Jordanian request.

According to the official letter, the released detainees are: Zeyad Adrah, Yazeed Masaeed, Ashraf Sharaa, Hazim Masaeed, Bilal Dawoud, Rami Abu Younis, Essa Ougaili and Bashar Rabii. 

AMMAN — Italian President Sergio Mattarella will start an official visit to the Kingdom today, during which he will hold talks with His Majesty King Abdullah.

The talks with the King will tackle means of enhancing cooperation between the two countries in various fields, as well as regional developments, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Italian president, who will be accompanied by his daughter, is also scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Omar Razzaz during his several-day stay in Jordan.

AMMAN — President of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (APU) and Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh on Monday met Iranian Shura Council President Ali Larijani, in Doha, on the sidelines of the International Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) 140 proceedings. 

“Jordanians stand steadfast behind His Majesty King Abdullah, the Custodian of Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian holy sites, and we will continue playing our role in defending the Palestinian cause until the Palestinians receive their rights in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions,” Tarawneh was quoted as saying in a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

In a meeting held at the Iranian delegation’s place of residence, Tarawneh added that “it is our role as parliamentary officials in Arab and Muslim countries to continue coordinating and discussing our support of central causes, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, which must be at the top of our priorities, allowing us to overlook our differences”. 

No issue should precede that of Jerusalem, the Lower House speaker stressed, adding that “we cannot stand idly in the face of the occupier’s actions against it [Jerusalem] and its people”.

The minister noted that the Arab parliamentary group presented a recommendation for an urgent IPU resolution condemning the violations of the Israeli occupation, recognising the Palestinian people’s rights and rejecting the US administration’s decision to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, according to Petra.

For his part, Larjani affirmed his country’s appreciation for His Majesty’s efforts in defending the Palestinian cause and the Hashemite Custodiaship over Jerusalem’s holy sites, pointing out that “the occupier exploits the disputes between Muslim countries, which contributes to lowering the priority of the Palestinian cause”. 

Larjani also welcomed Tarawneh’s proposal of holding a meeting in Baghdad for parliamentary leaders of Iraq’s neighbouring countries. 

Also on Monday, Tarawneh met with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, during which the two affirmed the importance of continuous Arab dialogue and coordination to “serve the key interests of Arab nations, with the Palestinian cause at the forefront”.

“We will continue to support our Palestinian brothers and sisters and protect Jerusalem, starting with the Hashemite Custodiaship of Islamic and Christian Holy sites in the Holy City. The parliamentary union will spare no efforts in putting an end to the occupier’s barbaric practices against the Palestinians,” Tarawneh reiterated.

AMMAN — Jordanians marched on Monday in Aqaba Governorate in support of His Majesty King Abdullah’s stance in support of Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause.

In a rally organised by the governorate’s council, with the participation of national and popular movements, the demonstrators chanted slogans and carried placards affirming the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem and proclaiming it the eternal capital of the Palestinian state, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The rally saw the participation of Aqaba Special Economic Zone President Nayef Bakhit, as well as officials and notables from the governorate, according to Petra.

Demonstrators also called on Jordanians to stand together in defending the country and its assets, Petra added.

Bakhit referred during the event to His Majesty’s “steadfast” positions towards the Palestinian cause and his efforts as the Custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem in protecting the city.

He stressed the “pride Jordanians have in the country’s moderate policies, that make the Kingdom an oasis for security and stability in the region”, according to Petra.

AMMAN — The Children’s Museum Jordan on Monday launched a special temporary exhibit titled, “Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World”, which will run until the end of the year, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times.

The exhibit, launched to mark World Health Day, was originally created by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, and is part of an effort between the Smithsonian’s museum of natural history and global partners to raise awareness of the human, animal and environmental factors contributing to infectious disease epidemics

The main message of the exhibit, according to the statement, is the importance of interdisciplinary responses to stop disease outbreaks and the impact those outbreaks have on communities.

The Children’s Museum Jordan coordinated with the US embassy in Amman to bring local content to the exhibit, which will feature USAID’s PREDICT-2–Jordan Project. The PREDICT-2 project is a USAID initiative implemented by the Jordan University for Science and Technology’s scientists to identify new emerging infectious diseases that could become a threat to human health in Jordan.

The Children’s Museum Jordan is a non-profit educational institution launched by Her Majesty Queen Rania in 2007. The museum houses more than 180 interactive scientific exhibits and educational facilities, including a library, art studio, tinker lab and secret garden, the statement said.

AMMAN — The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on Sunday held their Sport for Development programme at Sports City with 200 children from across Jordan participating.

The event was held to mark the UN’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, and gave youth a chance to play ultimate frisbee, football and other games, as well as “express with colours and papers what sports means to them”.

The 200 boys and girls came from different regional, social and physical backgrounds but were united in their joy of playing together regardless of gender, age, disability or race, organisers said, adding that the day was special “not only because of the diverse group of participants, but also because it was in large parts planned and conducted by ‘Youth Leaders’”.

Organisers said that the youth leaders are young people trained by GIZ to become agents of change in their communities using sports.

“We train coaches, teachers, social workers and young people to use sport as a tool to support the development of children’s personalities and to teach them important life skills. Therefore, we regularly conduct workshops for people working with children and youth to show them how to integrate sport in a meaningful way in their work,” said Henning Schick, head of the GIZ Sport for Development programme.

Values like respect, tolerance, empathy, discipline, fair play and confidence are conveyed in a fun and playful way, so that young people learn those values at an early age, organisers underscored.

The GIZ Sport for Development programme is supported by the Jordan Paralympic Committee and commissioned by the German government, according to a statement from GIZ.