Exchange of experience on protection of human rights and right to access to information

Details

Published: June 3, 2022

In cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Justice, IRZ organised an online exchange of experience on 23 May 2022, on protection of human rights and the right of access to information.

The group of participants from Jordan constituted representatives of the Human Rights agency in the Jordanian Ministry of Justice as well as of various courts.

The following topics, among others, were the focus of the exchange:

• Overall concept of human rights policies and mechanisms for protection of human rights in Jordan: The work of the Jordanian Ministry of Justice
• Implementation of human rights obligations in German law
• Preparation and review of the periodic human rights report of the Federal Government
• The right of access to information: Inspection of records, freedom of information and transparency

Mr. Sidi M. O. Khairy, Head of Section for the Middle East (IRZ) opened the seminar. On the Jordanian side, the Head of the Human Rights agency in the Ministry of Justice, Dr. Ms. Hanan Al-Khalayleh, conducted the event with a lecture. She showcased the work of the Ministry in the field of protection of human rights and gave details of the most important reforms and reform plans in this area. For instance, the Jordanian Criminal Code has been reformed and emphasis was placed on the improvement of the conditions in prisons and the development of rehabilitation proposals for the inmates.

In this context, the use of alternatives to imprisonment (e.g. use of electronic shackles) was also discussed a lot to relieve the penal system. Moreover, the accused must have better legal aid. Also, the topic of combating human trafficking and training the judiciary and Public Prosecutor’s Office in this context is a major topic in Jordan.

From the German side, the role and tasks of the Federal Ministry of Justice in implementing human rights obligations were presented. Furthermore, a representative of the Federal Foreign Office dwelt on the preparation and review of the periodic human rights report of the Federal Government.

Moreover, the right of access to information was discussed as a basic right. Here, the focus was on the development of the right to inspect records, of the freedom of information and of the transparency law.

The event was conducted as part of institutional support by the Federal Ministry of Justice and formed the first exchange of experiences on this topic.

IRZ will continue and intensify its longstanding cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and other judicial institutions in Jordan even in the coming months. Follow-up events on different sub-aspects are also planned in this context.