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16 August 2000
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CESCR
23rd session
16 August 2000
Morning
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights continued this morning its consideration of Jordan's second periodic report, questioning a Government delegation about how that country adhered to the tenets of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Committee experts focused their questions on areas like the rights and protection of women and children, asking the delegation about an array of issues from domestic violence, to child labour and maternity leave.
The delegation said that the Government took seriously the issue of violence against women, but that statistics were hard to come by because many women were reluctant to report such incidents. Government bodies had been established to combat violence against both women and children, and studies were being undertaken to develop the best way to confront the problem.
Women, the delegation said, did hold important posts within the Government, including the head of a Ministry, the head of the Council of Human Rights, and even a general in the Army. Although no women were elected to Parliament in the most recent elections, the number of votes for women candidates had increased by 70 per cent, and the amount of women candidates for Parliamentary office had also increased from 12 to 20. Both figures, the delegation said, represented progress.
Although child labour was illegal in Jordan, the delegation said it did exist, and that several Government agencies were working with the International Labour Organization to combat the problem. Jordanian law prohibited anyone under age from working, and restricted the working conditions and hours for children between the age of 16 and 18.
Jordan is the first of four countries whose reports will be considered by the Committee during its three-week session in presence of Government delegations. The other countries are Sudan, Kyrgyzstan and Australia. In addition, the Committee will consider the report of Mongolia, although that country has not sent a Government delegation to Geneva.
In acceding to the Covenant, States agree to submit periodic reports to the Committee describing how they give effect to the provisions of the Covenant. The panel evaluates the reports and makes observations and recommendations on improving the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
When the Committee returns at 3 p.m., it will conclude its consideration of the second periodic report of Jordan.
Discussion
In response to questions raised by Committee experts, the delegation said that violence against women was taken seriously in Jordan, although statistics were not readily available because many women were reluctant to report such incidents. The Government had established bodies to gather statistics and work toward the eradication of violence against women.
Concerning child abuse, a National Task Force for Children had been established to coordinate and consolidate the national effort for the development of the child. Many advances had been made in terms of combatting violence against children. The Task Force had prepared a National Act for Children, which was currently being studied. There were also proposals detailing punishments for anyone who sexually exploited children. The Childhood Protection Unit, located at the ministry level, documented cases, compiled statistics, and undertook studies to help combat child abuse.
About forced marriages, the delegation said they were no longer possible. Marriage contracts were based on mutual consent. A marriage not based on mutual consent could be annulled.
The delegation said women had been appointed in municipality bodies, and in other areas of Government. There was now a Secretary-General of a Ministry, the head of the Council of Human Rights was a woman, and there were even generals in the Jordanian Army who were women. In the military, women were granted 90 days maternity leave, 15 of which could be taken before delivery.
Seventeen per cent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were women, the delegation said, although only 15 per cent were diplomats. But that could be explained because many women could be reluctant to leave the country for long periods of time. But the diplomatic service was open to everybody in the country -- the same exam was required of all applicants.
With respect to women judges, they said, the first two were appointed to the bench in 1996, and that number had since grown to eight.
As for the age of work, the delegation said, no child under the age of 16 could work. From the ages of 16 to 18, there were restrictions about the conditions they were allowed to work in and the amount of hours they were allowed to work.
Child labour did exist -- Jordan acknowledged that. Government agencies had been looking into the problem and had been considering solutions. The Government was currently working on a project with the International Labour Organization to combat child labour. That question was not only dealt with in the Ministry of Social Affairs, but also in the Ministries of Labour and the Interior.
The delegation said that King Abdullah gave the highest priority to the respect of human rights. In fact, the first committee established by King Abdullah was the Human Rights Committee for Education, and included in it was the private sector as well as the civil society. The Committee also had United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representation. Jordan was an open country, and welcomed anyone who wanted to help. There were no barriers and no conditions.
There had been three rounds of elections since the restoration of democracy in Jordan, the delegation said. In the most recent parliamentary elections, no women were elected, although they had been elected in the past. But the amount of votes cast for women had increased by 70 per cent, showing a positive trend. And there were more women candidates -- 20 up from 12 -- and that also showed progress.
Asked about the landlord/tenant law, the delegation said a lease gave the right to the tenant to remain in the house without a rise in the rent. The law was amended to make sure that the lease was not a lifetime lease, since the landlord might not have any other source of income beside that one house. According to the new amendment, the situation did not change until 2010, by which time, an agreement would be reached between the landlord and the tenant, or the tenant would have to leave. It had passed both branches of parliament, and was awaiting the ratification of the King. But it was also being reconsidered by the Council of Ministers with more social protection for the tenants. A contract should not allow one party to impose unfair conditions on the other.
The delegation said rich people could build or rent homes freely. There were restitutions for low-income families. Ten years ago, 20,000 low-income housing units had been erected. There was a land distribution programme for low-income families, and credit was extended by the Housing Bank. There were several types of projects in this field. It was not thought that the housing situation constituted such an emergency in Jordan. Regarding squats and illegal housing, some had been demolished. But substitute housing was always found. The hope was to evict the squatters, and they were offered alternative housing, and they refused. There were clashes with the authorities. The police force was not asked to use force, but some force was used, and those who did it would be held accountable.
Jordan, in recent years, had suffered from a huge shortage in water, the delegation said. The level of rainfall in the last 10 years had been very low, and consumption had increased. The shortage had been exacerbated in recent years with the water wells becoming dryer. Steps were being taken to limit water usage, especially with agriculture.
There was an Economic Revival Program to combat poverty and unemployment. The Government was encouraging private investment for job creation, and it was also promoting exports to foreign markets. The public and private sectors were working to increase competitiveness. The Government had also established a programme with the World Bank that sought to boost the income of Jordanians who lived at the subsistence level. It was a two stage, 10-year programme, and it included job support, social development, and creation of small- and medium-level enterprises.
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23rd session
16 August 2000
Morning
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights continued this morning its consideration of Jordan's second periodic report, questioning a Government delegation about how that country adhered to the tenets of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Committee experts focused their questions on areas like the rights and protection of women and children, asking the delegation about an array of issues from domestic violence, to child labour and maternity leave.
The delegation said that the Government took seriously the issue of violence against women, but that statistics were hard to come by because many women were reluctant to report such incidents. Government bodies had been established to combat violence against both women and children, and studies were being undertaken to develop the best way to confront the problem.
Women, the delegation said, did hold important posts within the Government, including the head of a Ministry, the head of the Council of Human Rights, and even a general in the Army. Although no women were elected to Parliament in the most recent elections, the number of votes for women candidates had increased by 70 per cent, and the amount of women candidates for Parliamentary office had also increased from 12 to 20. Both figures, the delegation said, represented progress.
Although child labour was illegal in Jordan, the delegation said it did exist, and that several Government agencies were working with the International Labour Organization to combat the problem. Jordanian law prohibited anyone under age from working, and restricted the working conditions and hours for children between the age of 16 and 18.
Jordan is the first of four countries whose reports will be considered by the Committee during its three-week session in presence of Government delegations. The other countries are Sudan, Kyrgyzstan and Australia. In addition, the Committee will consider the report of Mongolia, although that country has not sent a Government delegation to Geneva.
In acceding to the Covenant, States agree to submit periodic reports to the Committee describing how they give effect to the provisions of the Covenant. The panel evaluates the reports and makes observations and recommendations on improving the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
When the Committee returns at 3 p.m., it will conclude its consideration of the second periodic report of Jordan.
Discussion
In response to questions raised by Committee experts, the delegation said that violence against women was taken seriously in Jordan, although statistics were not readily available because many women were reluctant to report such incidents. The Government had established bodies to gather statistics and work toward the eradication of violence against women.
Concerning child abuse, a National Task Force for Children had been established to coordinate and consolidate the national effort for the development of the child. Many advances had been made in terms of combatting violence against children. The Task Force had prepared a National Act for Children, which was currently being studied. There were also proposals detailing punishments for anyone who sexually exploited children. The Childhood Protection Unit, located at the ministry level, documented cases, compiled statistics, and undertook studies to help combat child abuse.
About forced marriages, the delegation said they were no longer possible. Marriage contracts were based on mutual consent. A marriage not based on mutual consent could be annulled.
The delegation said women had been appointed in municipality bodies, and in other areas of Government. There was now a Secretary-General of a Ministry, the head of the Council of Human Rights was a woman, and there were even generals in the Jordanian Army who were women. In the military, women were granted 90 days maternity leave, 15 of which could be taken before delivery.
Seventeen per cent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were women, the delegation said, although only 15 per cent were diplomats. But that could be explained because many women could be reluctant to leave the country for long periods of time. But the diplomatic service was open to everybody in the country -- the same exam was required of all applicants.
With respect to women judges, they said, the first two were appointed to the bench in 1996, and that number had since grown to eight.
As for the age of work, the delegation said, no child under the age of 16 could work. From the ages of 16 to 18, there were restrictions about the conditions they were allowed to work in and the amount of hours they were allowed to work.
Child labour did exist -- Jordan acknowledged that. Government agencies had been looking into the problem and had been considering solutions. The Government was currently working on a project with the International Labour Organization to combat child labour. That question was not only dealt with in the Ministry of Social Affairs, but also in the Ministries of Labour and the Interior.
The delegation said that King Abdullah gave the highest priority to the respect of human rights. In fact, the first committee established by King Abdullah was the Human Rights Committee for Education, and included in it was the private sector as well as the civil society. The Committee also had United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representation. Jordan was an open country, and welcomed anyone who wanted to help. There were no barriers and no conditions.
There had been three rounds of elections since the restoration of democracy in Jordan, the delegation said. In the most recent parliamentary elections, no women were elected, although they had been elected in the past. But the amount of votes cast for women had increased by 70 per cent, showing a positive trend. And there were more women candidates -- 20 up from 12 -- and that also showed progress.
Asked about the landlord/tenant law, the delegation said a lease gave the right to the tenant to remain in the house without a rise in the rent. The law was amended to make sure that the lease was not a lifetime lease, since the landlord might not have any other source of income beside that one house. According to the new amendment, the situation did not change until 2010, by which time, an agreement would be reached between the landlord and the tenant, or the tenant would have to leave. It had passed both branches of parliament, and was awaiting the ratification of the King. But it was also being reconsidered by the Council of Ministers with more social protection for the tenants. A contract should not allow one party to impose unfair conditions on the other.
The delegation said rich people could build or rent homes freely. There were restitutions for low-income families. Ten years ago, 20,000 low-income housing units had been erected. There was a land distribution programme for low-income families, and credit was extended by the Housing Bank. There were several types of projects in this field. It was not thought that the housing situation constituted such an emergency in Jordan. Regarding squats and illegal housing, some had been demolished. But substitute housing was always found. The hope was to evict the squatters, and they were offered alternative housing, and they refused. There were clashes with the authorities. The police force was not asked to use force, but some force was used, and those who did it would be held accountable.
Jordan, in recent years, had suffered from a huge shortage in water, the delegation said. The level of rainfall in the last 10 years had been very low, and consumption had increased. The shortage had been exacerbated in recent years with the water wells becoming dryer. Steps were being taken to limit water usage, especially with agriculture.
There was an Economic Revival Program to combat poverty and unemployment. The Government was encouraging private investment for job creation, and it was also promoting exports to foreign markets. The public and private sectors were working to increase competitiveness. The Government had also established a programme with the World Bank that sought to boost the income of Jordanians who lived at the subsistence level. It was a two stage, 10-year programme, and it included job support, social development, and creation of small- and medium-level enterprises.
* *** *