Day: July 1, 2021

Representatives of the public sector and Civil Society Organisations Thursday partook in a debate on enhancing the role of CSO’s in social protection.

The debate, dubbed “Enhancing the role of Civil Society Organisations in social protection in Jordan: Governmental actions to reform the legislative framework regulating CSOs in Jordan (2008 Law on Societies),” figured high on governmental actions to reform the legislative framework regulating CSO’s in Jordan.

Secretary-General of the Registrar of Societies at the Ministry of Development (MoSD) Taha Maghariz said the debate is aimed at bolstering the role of CSO’s in being part of designing social protection policies and providing social protection services.

The MoSD formed a committee responsible for reviewing the 2008 societies law and organising a community dialogue in March 2021.

The event was organised by “Expertise France” under the “EU Support to Social Protection Programme in Jordan,” in partnership with the MoSD as part of the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Component “Stronger Together.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

Noting Canada’s “key” role in efforts to support the region’s development, Safadi said the two countries have been working together through many programs over the years to activate cooperation in this field.

Safadi valued Canada’s support for many programs aimed at achieving social and economic development in the Kingdom.

Today’s meeting was an opportunity to talk about regional issues and challenges, in an “extensive” way about the Palestinian cause and efforts aimed at finding a political horizon for progress towards achieving comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution in accordance with international law and international legitimacy resolutions, Safadi told reporters.

“The current stage requires that all action should focus on preventing any events that will re-ignite the situation in the Palestinian territories,” Safadi said.

In this regard, he said: “We must work to establish stability in all the Palestinian territories, which would be achieved by halting any measures that could explode the situation,” adding that all steps that undermine chances of achieving peace must be stopped, in particular, respecting the legal and historical status quo at Jerusalem.

Safadi said His Majesty King Abdullah II is the custodian over Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, and therefore our efforts are continuing to preserve the historical and legal status quo there, aimed to prevent any violations that will have “a very difficult” impact on the region.

Safadi said the Kingdom’s position on the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood aims to “respect the right its residents to their homes, as Amman views their deportation and displacement, if it takes place, a war crime according to international law.”

On joint counter-terror efforts, Safadi said the joint position of Jordan and Canada emphasizes “the necessity of continuing to work within the framework of the international coalition to defeat terrorism, which poses a common danger to all, and is certainly unrelated with the true Islamic religion and the values of peace, and respect for the other.”

Lauding Canada’s continuous support to Syrian refugees and the hosting countries, he also highlighted its assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which suffers from an “acute” funding shortfall.

In this regard, Safadi stressed that the Kingdom will hold a conference at the end of 2021, in partnership with Sweden, “to mobilize political and financial support for the agency to continue providing its vital services to Palestinian refugees in its five operation countries.”

Safadi added that “UNRWA is still suffering from a severe lack of funding, adding that Jordan is working “intensively” to mobilize international support for the agency in the Kingdom.

Safadi pointed out that there is a Jordanian-Swedish partnership that has continued over the past years, where more than one international conference has been held to mobilize international support for UNRWA.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grant of US$697,492 to a Japanese Non-Government Organization, Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCOD) for the 2nd phase capacity enhancement of the Detention Centre in Russeifa, according press statement issued by Japanese embassy.

A grant contract was signed on July 1, 2021 by Araike Katsuhiko, Charge’ d ’affaires and Kitagaki Kenta, Country Representative of NICCOD Jordan Office.

This project is the second phase of a three-year project and the Government of Japan extended a grant of US$ 448,231 for the first phase.

This grant assistance aims to support the capacity enhancement of the Osama Ben-Zaid Detention Centre, which is a pre-trial detention and rehabilitation facility for boys between 16 and 18 years old located in Russeifa, Zarqa.

The project aims to improve environment of correctional education and rehabilitation activities at the centre, develop capacity of staffs for psychological support, and exchange opinions with local communities and the centre, read the statement.

All the activities will be implemented utilizing Japan’s experience and knowledge in this field in order to contribute to the reduction of the recidivism of juvenile criminals in Jordan and to support the centre to be a bridge between juveniles and society, said the statement.

NICCOD is a Japanese Non-Government Organization that has been working for emergency relief and supporting self-reliance with in consideration to the environment since 1979. Subsequent to launching a micro credit project in Karak in 1993, NICCOD has been implementing a wide range of projects in various area across Jordan.

Since the onset of Syrian crisis, it has been engaging in humanitarian support activities for Syrian refugees and Jordanian impoverished people living in Zarqa and its activities have also been expanded to Zaatari refugee camp since August 2014.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Lower House Speaker, Abdel Moneim Awdat, discussed in two separate meetings on Thursday, with the ambassadors of Romania, Nicolae Comanescu, and Hungary’s Csaba Czibere, respectively, ways to enhance bilateral relations, especially in the parliamentary domain.

Speaking at his meeting with Comanescu, Awdat stressed the need to launch “closer” Jordanian-Romanian parliamentary cooperation and maintain coordination and consultation on various issues of common interest.

Awdat stressed the importance of joint cultural and educational cooperation, and expanding partnership frameworks in all fields with Romania.

The Romanian envoy, for his part, affirmed his country’s keenness to maintain joint cooperation and coordination, praising Jordan’s role under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II to achieve security and stability in the region.

Later at talks with Hungarian envoy, Awdat expressed the “deep-rooted, friendly” relations between the two countries, stressing the importance of joint cooperation and coordination, which would serve common interests, and contribute to achieving security and stability in the region.

Czibere affirmed his country’s keenness to develop bilateral relations, adding that Hungary is concerned with developing ties with the Kingdom in various fields, especially in economic and higher education areas.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The State Security Court (SSC) held a session Thursday, in ‘sedition’ case,” in the presence of the two defendants, and their defense team.

During the session, the defense attorneys ended their response, per legally established litigation proceedings.

At the same hearing, Public Prosecution representative presented his closing statement, demanding that the two defendants are handed down a “deterrent” sentence in accordance with the law provisions.

The SSC court decided to adjourn the trial until next Tuesday upon request of the defense attorneys.

Source: Jordan News Agency