Prime Ministry holds consultative meeting ahead of Jordan’s 4th periodic review

AMMAN — The Prime Ministry’s Human Rights Department, in cooperation with the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), on Wednesday held a consultation meeting with civil community institutions in the southern region on Jordan’s Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) 2024.

Khalil Abdallat, director of the department, said that the human rights portfolio receives Royal attention through directing the government to prepare the Comprehensive National Human Rights Plan 2016-2025, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Abdallat said that this is the Kingdom's first strategic document to improve the human rights status, focused on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and protection of vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

He pointed out that the government relies on national consultation in preparing reports, both contractual and non-contractual mechanisms, noting that the state reviewed the human rights situation for three consecutive sessions and received 226 recommendations in the third report of 2018, of which 149 recommendations were approved by the Jordanian state.

The director added that this consultation meeting will not be the last, where civil society and national institutions will join government agencies, media institutions and various stakeholders to utilise opportunities and seek to raise efficiency, especially in interacting with international, regional and national mechanisms and follow-up on prior achievements.

His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday received the president and members of the National Centre for Human Rights’ (NCHR) board of trustees and stressed the importance of the centre's role through spreading the culture of human rights.

For his part, PDTRA Chief Commissioner Suleiman Farajat highlighted the importance of holding such meetings.