Local

AMMAN — Violence against women remains a major obstacle to achieving their full rights in Jordan, Minister of Justice Awad Abu Jarad on Tuesday said.

Abu Jarad added that “some people justify violence against women and children with religion and cultural norms, which is not the case at all”.

“Using religion and culture as an excuse to justify acts of violence against women and children is unacceptable and that is why the government took concrete steps to fight gender-based violence [GBV],” Abu Jarad said.

The minister’s remarks were made during a one-day national conference entitled “Gender-Based Violence Legal Protection” that was organised by Sisterhood Is Global Institute (SIGI) and supported by Oxfam, held at the Land Mark Hotel in Amman.

Abu Jarad added that the government worked under the guidance and support of Their Majesties King Andullah and Queen Rania who “constantly addressed their concern about GBV and called for concrete and practical solution to safeguard the wellbeing of women and children in our society”.

SIGI’s Executive Director Asma Khader said during her opening speech that what is important is “ensuring the proper application of the law and services that are provided by the government and institutes to GBV survivors”.

“We want to reach a society that is almost free of violence and we cannot do it if we do not have a comprehensive implementation plan,” Khader said.

Khader added that “much of the work falls on the government who is in charge of implementing laws and regulations that protects its citizens”.

Meanwhile, Gender Justice Programme Manager at Oxfam in Jordan Audrey Barthalot also addressed the gathering by stating that there has been many positive developments in Jordan recently to tackle gender based violence.

“It makes it even more important to seize this momentum and better understand how implementation works in practice,” Barthalot said.

“It is necessary to have an approach that brings together different actors, different perspectives and different ways of working to tackle this issue while keeping at its core, the needs of survivor women and girls,” Barthalot added.

The participants, including experts in various GBV fields and activists from various governorates, are expected to come up with recommendations that will be forwarded to decision makers for consideration and implementation, according to SIGI’s President Inaam Asha.

AMMAN — The new amendments to Income Tax Law aim at serving taxpayers and “effectively” combating tax evasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Jafar Hassan said on Tuesday.

During a discussion at the Jordan Strategy Forum, Hassan added that the new draft law amending the Income Tax Law was meant to enhance tax collections which “other previous laws have failed to address”, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Last week, the Cabinet approved the validating reasons for a draft law amending the Income Tax Law for 2018 and referred it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau.

The government stressed that the draft law aims to realise “social justice and equality” and impose deterrent penalties on perpetrators of tax evasion.

Hassan also stressed the “government’s openness to dialogue with all segments of the society on the new law”, adding that meetings almost on daily basis are held with experts on the new law, including accountants, lawyers, senators, MPs and representatives of production,  industry and trade sectors, Petra said. 

The minister also said that the government seeks to expand the taxpayer base to include 10 per cent instead of 5 per cent of citizens and, “in doing so, all economic and social factors are taken into consideration”.

Hassan added that the comprehensive tax burden in Jordan is “less than in other member states of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and regional countries”, according to Petra.

With public debt amounting to 95 per cent of GDP, the minister explained that it is at this stage difficult to enhance economic growth through exemptions and tax incentive, “especially at the time when 95 per cent of Jordanians are exempted from income tax”.

Acknowledging that tax policies are among the tools to achieve growth, Hassan said that there are other ways to encourage investments and increase exports, including laws, business environment and public-private partnerships, Petra said.

Asked whether the new tax law would affect investments in the country, Hassan said that foreign investors take into their account other factors in addition to taxes, such as business environment, laws, administrative procedures, energy costs, labour market, Petra said.  

He also said there are strategies to reconsider energy cost on production sectors and a that a decision in this regard has been already made.

AMMAN — HRH Princess Reem gave a lecture at the Lebanese embassy in Amman on the future of traditional media in the era of modern media, especially in light of the changes that the media landscape is witnessing as a result of the spread of the Internet and social networks, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

During a seminar organised by the Lebanese community in Jordan and the Jordanian-Lebanese Association, The princess reviewed the most prominent features of transformation in media and mechanisms to employ these developments to serve the media and its mission.

Princess Reem pointed out that the revolution in media, communication and social networks has transformed the media environment, which was limited to satellite channels, newspapers and radio.

AMMAN — The government on Tuesday congratulated the Iraqi people and government on holding their parliamentary elections, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

State Minister for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani praised the achievements, describing it as a “vital step towards retrieving security and stability in brotherly Iraq”. Momani stressed that holding the elections marks the victories that Iraq has gained against terrorist organisations, especially Daesh.

The minister, who is also the government’s spokesperson, commended the social, political and security measures that were taken during the electoral process, in addition to ensuring the participation of all parties and society segments.

He stressed Jordan’s support to the Iraqi leadership and people to overcome the political, economic and security challenges, and retrieve its pivotal pan-Arab role.

AMMAN — Planning Minister Imad Fakhoury on Tuesday opened the Government Transparency Unit, a Planning Ministry statement said.

The unit aims to assist the ministry and other public and private institutions in following up on the participation and commitments of Jordan to the initiative of transparent governments.

During the opening ceremony, Fakhoury said that the establishment of the unit and the selection of a civil society activist to conduct its work in coordination with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is an evidence of the seriousness of the government’s approach towards greater transparency in order to deepen and institutionalise participatory and consultative approach in the management of public affairs.

AMMAN — Om Saud had never thought that her two sons, who suffer from bow legs and knock knees, will be able to walk normally again. 

Om Saud's nine-member family has to make do with a limited income, as her husband's illness prevents him from working, however, her 15- and 18-year-old sons Mohammad and Ahmad have recently received free-of-charge surgeries to treat their condition.

For 17-year-old Bashar Ayman, an iontophoresis cross-linking surgery — also free of charge — has saved him from losing his sight, and his doctor believes that there is yet hope it will further improve. 

The young men are among 33 cases that received free-of-charge surgeries in private hospitals as part of the Goodwill Campaign launched by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) in cooperation with several private hospitals with the aim of providing medical care for underprivileged families from various governorates across the Kingdom.

"It takes a few minutes to visit the patients and see their happiness with the successful surgeries they underwent, but behind the scenes, there are several doctors and nurses who have dedicated great efforts and so much of their time to make it happen," HRH Princess Basma, president of the Goodwill Campaign higher committee, said on Monday.

During her tour to the three hospitals where beneficiaries received their treatment, Princess Basma checked on their health and was briefed on their condition by the doctors who performed the surgeries.

Under the partnership between the campaign and private hospitals, 11 patients received urgently needed surgeries at the Islamic Hospital, ten at the Middle East Eye Hospital and 12 at the Specialty Hospital, according to JOHUD. 

For Othman Al Abbadi, an ophthalmologist at the Islamic Hospital, "taking part in the campaign reflects our noble mission as doctors, in addition to the fact that drawing a smile on a patient's face and being a reason for changing their life is certainly priceless".

"Underprivileged families are already overburdened with basic life necessities, so by providing them with free treatment, we do not only help them regain a healthy and normal life, but also save their money for the more urging life necessities," Abbadi added.

Seven-year-old Dina Khader, who thanks to the surgery she underwent will be able to use her hand again, was among several children who received toy gifts from Princess Basma during the tour. 

Princess Basma expressed her appreciation to the participating hospitals, which she said have contributed to the success of the initiative, reiterating the importance of joint efforts to support the campaign in its mission towards alleviating the suffering of the underprivileged.

During the tour, Princess Basma also signed an agreement for cooperation with the Middle East Eye Hospital.

The National Goodwill Campaign, first launched by JOHUD in 1991, has served numerous needy families and has grown over the years to become synonymous with support for the poor and marginalised, according to JOHUD.

In cooperation with the private sector, the campaign has enabled families in need to benefit from vital services by providing health and education assistance as well as income-generating projects.

AMMAN — Building on its emerging status as a regional hub for designers, Amman recently hosted a creative event aimed at helping local designers grow their brand and gain wider visibility on the regional and international market.

“We organised DeZain Space with the aim of supporting local creators and giving them a platform to network, gain insights into the sector, and exchange with other designers,” Creative Director of the event Shamekh Bluwi told The Jordan Times at Ras Al Ain Hangar, where the three day event took place.

“Jordan is bustling with innovative creators who have amazing ideas but still need a push to take their brand to the next level,” Bluwi, a fashion designer himself, said, adding that “this space aims to help them rise up to the standards of the international market so they can expand and gain more recognition nationally and globally”.

Thirty-seven local designers convened to the Hangar, where they displayed their creations in a “creative marketplace” and exchanged with fellow designers and visitors.

“Most of the Jordanian designers are used to work by piece, and are not always acquainted with the global trend of seasonal collections. Through various workshops, talks and fashion shows, we gave them an opportunity to learn more about the global marketplace and the best practices in the field,” Bluwi explained.

Supported by Zain Innovation Campus and Zain, the Dezain Space saw the participation of various Jordanian personalities in the field of design, social media, fitness and social entrepreneurship.

“Nowadays, it is essential to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in various areas, especially in specialised sectors like design and innovation,” said Zain CEO Ahmad Hanandeh during the launching ceremony. 

Emerging designers got to witness presentations by successful local businessmen like Tamer Al Masri, co-founder and CEO of Jobedu, a Jordanian streetwear brand inspired by Arab pop culture which recently signed contracts with global corporations Disney and Warner Bros.

“In the first of its kind co-branding collaboration in the region, Jobedu recently partnered with the two entertainment giants to produce merchandise featuring some of the companies most iconic characters including DC comics superheroes and Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry,” Tamer Al Masri, told his audience.

Fashion personalities, social influencers and local businesspeople such as Zayna Hamarneh, Sima Najjar, Maher Kaddoura and Rebecca Odeh acquainted emerging entrepreneurs on a variety of topics ranging from the power of pop-up stores to online selling and branding.

“The vision behind this great event was to help and promote Jordanian designers and creators in the national and regional markets,” said Najjar during a panel on her journey as a successful business owner.

Local incubators like Oasis500 also provided presentations on ways to secure investments for creative start-ups and to build sustainable business models.

“The 37 designers were mentored and underwent an intensive bootcamp about business and how to take their brand to the next level. What we saw here is a complete transformation for some of them,” she told The Jordan Times after the event. 

Among the promising entrepreneurs present was Aseel Qawasmeh, founder of Aseel and a fashion designer herself. She created a clothes collection dedicated to the refugee crisis, where she highlighted the plea of Syrian and Palestinian refugees in original fashion designs. 

Her most striking piece, a t-shirt displaying a barcode number belonging to a Syrian refugee named Hana, has drawn the attention of many visitors of the DeZain marketplace. “I was inspired by a 40-year-old woman, Hana, who sought refuge in Jordan along with her children after the Syrian crisis started. When any refugee arrives to the Kingdom’s refugee camps, they are given an identification number and a UN certificate defining their new status as refugees,” she told The Jordan Times next to her stall, adding “I wanted to make this difficult moment visible to all, by exposing it on the front of a plain white t-shirt, as a mark of solidarity with all the migrants from the regional crises.” 

For her part, young architect and interior designer Ayah Bataineh displayed her homeware products designed in line with the theme of Ramadan proposed by the organisers. “I worked on an entire line inspired by the upcoming holy month, a really important time for Jordanians. All this homeware is representative of the feelings and sentiments of Muslims as they are fasting during the day [represented by the drought and scarcity design] and the moment they quench their thirst as they break their fast at iftar [portrayed by the waves and water-like figures],” Bataineh explained in front of her stand.  

Out of the 37 designers present, 13 have been supported by Zain, according to Bluwi, who said the company helped them develop their brand, establish their start-ups and reach out to local markets.

“It is really exciting to see such a variety of actors in the sector, going from people with over ten years of experience in the field, exhibiting right next to debuting creators. This allows for a truly enriching experience for both parties, as well as the visitors,” he rejoiced.

AMMAN — Jordanian audiences are getting a taste of the Arab culture present in Latin America through “Alhambras: Neo-Arabic Architecture in Latin America”, the new exhibition inaugurated by the Spanish embassy on Monday at the Jordan Museum. 

Running through May 31, the exhibition is the visual result of several years of research which culminated with a project financed by the Council of the Alhambra and the Generalife, according to an embassy statement. 

“This exhibition offers us an initial approach to the wealth of the Latin American heritage inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada and other significant Andalusian heritage buildings,” the statement said. 

Held under the patronage of Prince Hassan Bin Talal, the exhibition comes in the framework of the Arab-Iberian-American Divan for Thought. Inaugurated in cooperation with the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies, the Cervantes Institute and the Arab Thought Forum, the exhibition followed a lecture delivered at the Jordan Museum by Rafael López Guzmán, professor of art history at the University of Granada in Spain. 

“The spread of Arab culture in Latin America begins with the Spanish colonisation of the Americas, when master builders arrived to the continent along with the conquerors and the heritage of Al Andalus impregnating the Spanish cultural baggage that they carried with them,” the professor told The Jordan Times in a recent interview, explaining that “from Mexico to Argentina, it is easy to find Muslim geometry and constructive systems of brick and mortar, in addition to the immaterial patrimony represented in their gastronomy”.

“What we can see is a transposition of the Arab and Andalusian cultures in a new territory — an adaptation that allows for the techniques to be transformed and for new elements to appear,” the professor continued, highlighting the “perfect symbiosis between the mudejar culture and the heritage of America itself, and the enrichment that America added to the mixture of Christian and Muslim art in Al Andalus”.

On the architectural and artistic landmarks of Jordan, López expressed that “the Treasury at Petra is like a lesson on the history of architecture frozen in time, which teaches us about the common culture that we all share”, stressing that “while Europe puts the focus on Greece and Rome, the sight of Petra reminds one of all the heritage from the Middle East”.

“We take more from our ancestors than we believe, and that is why, when trying to go forward, we shall examine our history and realise that we are not isolated beings,” the professor expressed, concluding “we live in a society, and culture and art cannot be advanced without reflecting on our past and the cultures that have influenced us.”

AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat on Tuesday participated in the European Union Chiefs of Staff Conference, held at the European Union headquarters in Brussels, where Jordan was invited as a strategic partner.

Freihat shed light on the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF)’s role in maintaining world peace and security and combating extremism and terrorism, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. During his visit, Freihat held meetings with Chief of Defence Staff of the United Kingdom’s Armed Force Stuart Peach, who will take over as head of the NATO military commission in June, and Chief of Staff of the Italian army Danilo Errico, who will take over as head of the EU’s military commission in November.

Freihat discussed with his British and Italian counterparts ways to boost relations between JAF and entities they will chair, in addition to the latest developments in the region and means of enhancing joint cooperation.

AMMAN — Labour Minister Samir Murad on Tuesday attended the first national conference on developing sector-based skills titled “Towards skills More Apt for the Labour Market” organised in cooperation with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the inauguration, Murad said that the government has adopted the 2016-2025 National Strategy for Human Resource Development, which aims at providing individuals with the needed skills and knowledge to participate effectively in the development processes locally, regionally and internationally.

For her part, the German Ambassador to Jordan Birgitta Siefker-Eberle stressed the importance of the conference which reflects the fruitful cooperation towards achieving reforms in the vocational training sector.