AMMAN (JT) -- King Abdullah on Monday said Jordan was keen to consolidate respect for human freedom and dignity, ensure the rule of law and achieve justice and equality in society.
The King told Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) Ahmad Obeidat at a meeting that the government and all relevant parties should review human rights laws and legislation in Jordan to avert any violations, a Royal Court statement said.
The meeting, attended by General Commissioner for Human Rights in Jordan Shaher Bak, was part of the King's follow-up on the NCHR's 2005 report.
The report said numerous changes of governments negatively affected the democratic process, which lacked significant or positive development in civil and political rights.
King Abdullah yesterday said a comprehensive plan was being drawn up to improve prison conditions in Jordan and to ensure that they comply with international standards.
According to the report, authorities were reforming prisons and rehabilitation centres, but many problems remained, including a deficiency in healthcare, weak rehabilitation programmes, violence and drug use among inmates and the use of force by security officials.
The King said he appreciated the NCHR's role in perusing human rights issues.
Obeidat, for his part, commended the King for giving prominence to human rights, adding that the meeting also emanated from the Monarch's keenness to listen to different viewpoints.
He added that the discussion included Jordan's position on major international human rights agreements endorsed by the Kingdom, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Convention Against Torture, Anti-Racism Agreement, as well as the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Obeidat added that the centre will maintain an open channel with the government to ensure implementation of these agreements. He also said that the NCHR has seen some positive indications this year and that the centre's recommendations on human rights issues were being taken into consideration. He pointed to the formation of a committee at the Ministry of Labour to review the Labour Law to ensure it conforms to international standards.
He added that the centre was aware of the prison reform plan and said that it is taking positive steps, regardless of the latest incidents and problems.
"We are talking here of a systematic approach to reform prisons in accordance with international standards," he said.
© Jordan Times 2006
