Judicial Council, Danish human rights institute sign anti-torture MoU

AMMAN — Chief Prosecutor Yousef Thiabat on Monday said that the Public Prosecution is fully aware of the high level of responsibility needed to achieve a culture that rejects all forms of torture and strengthens the right to a fair trial.

Speaking during the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Judicial Council and the Danish Institute against Torture (DIGNITY), and the launching of the sixth phase of the Danish Foreign Ministry-funded Karama programme (dignity in English), Thiabat highlighted the Public Prosecution's efforts to promote professional work against the crime of torture. 

Rasmus Christensen, Institute's chief executive officer, confirmed that the MoU would pave the way for the next phase of the Karamah programme, highlighting that the ongoing exchange of experiences has helped to prevent torture at the global level. 

DIGNITY, founded 40 years ago as a research organisation, is now an international organisation documenting human rights violations and rehabilitating those who are subjected to such violations, he added.

A representative of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the memo shows the important partnership between the organisation and the Judicial Council. 

The ministry had supported DIGNITY for several years in terms of training, strengthening supervision in detention centres and issuing special guidance for arrest procedures, he said.

DIGNITY Regional Director Yasar Abdou pointed out that since its establishment in Jordan in 2014, DIGNITY has opened a national and international anti-torture dialogue and enhanced detention alternatives through its various activities and programmes.