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AMMAN — The first batch of students supported by a UNICEF scholarship on Wednesday graduated from the technical and vocational training programme at Luminus Education, in a ceremony attended by representatives from the Ministry of Labour and the Canadian embassy, and the ambassador of Kuwait, a UNICEF statement said.

Thirty-three per cent of young people in Jordan are currently economically inactive and many have limited opportunities to engage. UNICEF is helping youth reach their full potential through its Amaluna Youth Economic Engagement programme, which targets 30,000 youth to receive quality vocational training programmes proven to successfully transition them to the labour market.

The graduates were part of a pilot project targeting 500 vulnerable young people in Jordan — half of them women — including Syrian refugees, aged between 16-30 years.

Training modules include cosmetology, plumbing, hospitality, catering and food processing, garment manufacture, customer care and call centre operation. 

In addition to the education and skills training, all graduates have access to employment opportunities through public-private partnerships, with 36 per cent of the 423 graduates having already accessed employment.

AMMAN — Iraqis residing in the Kingdom on Thursday headed to ballot boxes to elect their country’s parliament members, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The two-day election in Jordan will be in 13 polling centres, of which 11 in Amman and one in each Irbid and Zarqa.

During her tour to the centres, Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Safia Al Suhail called on her nationals to participate in the election and choose their representatives.

Suhail expressed appreciation for the Jordanian authorities’ cooperation and facilitating the election process. Some 160,000 Iraqis living in Jordan are expected to take part in the election. This is the second parliamentary election in Iraq since the US withdrawal in 2011, according to Petra.

AMMAN — The reconstruction of the Levant requires in the first place the “institutionalisation of the human”, ensuring that the fundamental human rights of people arerespected, HRH Prince Hassan has said.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the two-day Religion and Dignity of Life: Christian and Muslim Viewpoint colloquium on Wednesday, he stressed that the rebuilding process should be based on humanitarian considerations, otherwise, the path may lead to divergence that would, in turn, lead to violence. He underlined that the region is bracing for a “gold-rush” that will see developers from different countries flocking to the region.

He said that during the rebuilding of war-torn countries, conflicts and contradictions arise, and in such a situation, youth are our greatest loss. But to make genuine peace, he continued, a post-conflict reconstruction blueprint that takes into consideration the human aspects of the process and render it a win for all, is needed.

The right to humanitarian assistance starts with mercy, His Highness said, which should go hand-in-hand with justice, underlining the fact that there are, for example, 18 million hungry people in Yemen (out of a population of around 29 million). 

The starvation is coupled with a severe shortage in potable water. The Prince urged, in this context, the establishment of a regional private-public council to manage water crises, as well as other issues related to the degradation of the human environment and loss of human dignity as a result of protracted conflicts. 

His Highness said that the world is struggling for dignity, and that the focus should be now on “interdependence” among communities and groups, stressing on the shared humanitarian values as the foundation and the common ground where all humans can meet to solve their problems.

Any solution, he emphasised, should be “sympathetic with human suffering” and aimed at equality as the key element in human justice.

The event was organised in cooperation with the Royal Institute of Interfaith Studies (RIIFS) and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID).

Bishop Miguel Ayuso, PCID’s secretary, deputised for the council’s president, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, at the gathering. 

In his remarks, he said that human life and dignity requires the efforts of religious leaders, communities, individuals and groups to join efforts in favour of the dignity of life.

He said that Daesh is still out there and “cannot be forgotten easily”, adding that the terror group’s acts of violence have affected the Muslim majority as well as the other groups, resulting in a wave of migration involving all.

When searching for the reasons behind terrorism, he said that poverty, injustice and discrimination are not the only drives: “The absence of hope tops them all.”

He stressed that the future generation needs hope fed by “positive” media, social media and a proper education system.

He said that the collaboration between PCID and RIIFS over the years sets an example for other such endeavours.

The fifth colloquium, which convenes every two years, started in 2009 in Jordan, taking turns between Jordan and Rome.

Monsignor Khaled Akasheh, head of the Islamic relations office at PCID at the Vatican City underlined “the pressing need to discuss human dignity to ensure respect for human rights and among members of the community”.

He added that learning to respect others and their rights startsat school where students should be taught to respect their peers and teachers, and to keep their school tidy. “If we are able to teach these small values, then we can move to teaching the more significant ones.”

Ali Azar Shad, an Arabic professor from Iran presented a paper on religion and dignity of life, in which he concluded that dignity is an integral part in the human right to life.

He told The Jordan Time on the sidelines of the event that the reason behind all wars is the lack of dignity, and that wars lead to loss of human dignity; the cure to all wounds, he added, is love of humanity, beauty and perfection.

Among the audience was Aminah Hoti, executive director of Dialogue and Action at the University of Cambridge. She said that the present difficulties around the world are making people feel unstable and insecure, especially the youth.

“Young people need hope and clear leadership of peace,” she told The Jordan Times.

AMMAN – Grand Mufti Mohammad Khalaileh called on the public to look for the Ramadan’s crescent moon (hilal) at sunset on Tuesday, May 15, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The crescent marks the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Khalaileh said that the Iftaa’ offices will open their doors on this day to receive those who wish to testify according to the Islamic tradition. He also pointed out the need to wait for the official announcement issued by the Iftaa’ Department before announcing any news related to the holy month starting day. 

AMMAN – Deputising for HRH Princess Muna, the Royal Medical Services (RMS) Director Maj. Gen. Muin Habashneh, on Thursday attended the graduation ceremony of the 19th batch of graduates from the Princess Muna College for Nursing of Karak’s Mutah University, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Delivering a speech, Habashneh said Princess Muna’s care for the nursing profession has had its reflections on improving the level of services offered to the citizen. Habashenh said that the RMS relies on the new graduates to maintain quality services to patients. He also presented the certificates to the 126 female graduates.

AMMAN — The Cela Rural Lodge in Ma’tan Heritage Village on Thursday was officially opened in Tafileh, under the patronage of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab, a USAID statement said. Developed with support from USAID, the lodge offers a new tourism experience that showcases rural life and the area’s culture, nature and history.

The USAID Building Economic Sustainability through Tourism project worked with the Baqea Tourism Cooperative Society to revamp the lodge, supporting interior design, operations planning, local community engagement and capacity building to create a unique and quality tourism experience. The project also installed a solar power system and trained staff in food handling and housekeeping.

AMMAN — The Tourism Ministry has announced instructions that allow tourist facilities to work during Ramadan and provide services, but without violating the “sanctity” of the fasting month, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Thursday.

Tourism Minister Lina Annab said that the annual instructions allow serving food and beverages to visitors of tourist restaurants during Ramadan, provided that such facilities are fully closed and cannot be seen from outside.

The ministry bans restaurants and coffee shops from serving food and beverages before the fast-breaking iftar meal time, but allows such facilities to deliver orders. The instructions also entail obtaining licences for conducting night festivals, Petra added. 

AMMAN — The Personnel Affairs Department at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) on Sunday announced that families of fallen officers will be receiving their due makrumas as of May 13, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The statement said that the makruma, a directive of His Majesty King Abdullah, is being distributed on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, adding that reception of the allocations will take place in the announced locations in various governorates for a 14-day period starting from the May 13.

AMMAN — The Special Operations Forces Exhibition 2018 (SOFEX), which was inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah, the supreme commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), concluded on Thursday, having witnessed a wide local, regional and international participation.

SOFEX Director Amer Tabaa said that next iteration of the expo, which specialises in defence and operational industries and national security, will take place in May 2020, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a press conference, Tabaa said that 352 companies took part in the exhibition, showcasing military products from 62 countries which were toured by 103 delegations representing 53 countries, marking an increase compared to the previous edition.

The director expressed his pride to see SOFEX remain an effective platform for special operations and national security, adding that the exhibition has gained recognition as a key world event.

Convened biannually at the King Abdullah I Airbase in Amman, the fair provides an opportunity for defence industry members around the world to engage in discussions with high-ranking military officers, network with visiting delegations and showcase their technological contributions in the field.

AMMAN — Today marks the birthday of HRH Princess Basma, who has dedicated her career to promoting human development, gender equality, youth engagement, and the development and wellbeing of children. 

Her work on these issues is embodied in her role as chairperson of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), which since 1977 has been a pioneer in working with local communities to help address issues such as unemployment, poverty, women’s rights and youth empowerment, while providing services to adolescents and children in need and supporting refugees. 

JOHUD operates through a vibrant network of 51 community development centres spread throughout the country’s populated and most remote regions. These facilities act as a vibrant focal point for the communities they serve, with participation of women and youth committees and volunteers who play an active role in developing their communities.

The national Goodwill Campaign, a dynamic philanthropic initiative, grew out of JOHUD’s experience in the field. The Campaign, which started out in 1991 as direct aid and assistance evolved into projects and initiatives that are aimed at helping individuals and communities gain some financial independence and better standard of living. Initiatives such as the medical assistance programme and university scholarship scheme have benefitted a growing number of people of all ages. 

Princess Basma is known for her commitment to enhancing the role of women in civil society, and bringing them into the public sphere. The Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), headed by Princess Basma, serves as a reference and leading policy-making forum in Jordan on women’s issues and rights. In partnership with other stakeholders, the commission leads national efforts in formulating and advocating for amendments to discriminatory laws against women. 

The recent abolishment of Article 308 and amendment of Article 98 are long awaited achievements for the rights of Jordanian women. Efforts are being intensified to make amendments to certain articles in the Labour Law to increase women’s participation in the labour market and ensure a secure environment for them. 

After a two year inclusive and participatory process led by JNCW and the National Coalition on 1325, consisting of over 60 entities representing different government ministries, civil society organisations, security sector actors and international partners, the Jordanian action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Security and Peace was launched this year.

The princess is the honourary human development ambassador for UNDP and goodwill ambassador for UN Women and UNFPA.

Princess Basma holds a doctorate degree in development from Oxford University.

She is married to Walid Kurdi, and has four children; Farah (JOHUD’s executive director), Ghazi, Saad and Zein Al Sharaf, and five grandchildren; Fatima Al Zahra, Zein Al Sharaf, Abdulaziz, Aysha, Iman and Basma.