Press release – EU Special Representative for Human Rights Kajsa Ollongren visits the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The EUSR met with Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, with whom she discussed the broader regional context from a human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) perspective. The interlocutors agreed that the EU and Jordan share an interest in a rules-based multilateral order, and in a human rights-based future for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Lebanon and Syria.
“Jordan’s hosting of the upcoming High-Level Conference on International Humanitarian Law is a testament to Jordan’s commitment to ensuring that IHL is not an optional but an obligation that must be actively preserved,” the EUSR emphasized.
The EUSR also engaged with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and think tanks to discuss Jordan’s modernization agenda as well as recommendations of the EU Electoral Observation Mission. At the Jordan Media Institute (JMI), the EUSR met with Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Rym Ali as well as students, alumni and media actors.
In Amman, the EUSR met with civil society organizations and women’s rights actors. They discussed the importance of civic space, the freedom of expression, gender equality and women’s rights, as well as social and economic rights. All civil society actors were concerned about the impact of the conflicts in the region on the human rights landscape. They asked to be meaningfully included as genuine governance actors in all policy processes in Jordan.
The EUSR further visited the Jabal el-Hussein Camp and met with senior management of the United Nations Work and Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), discussing the need to ensure a rights-based approach to Palestinian refugees. UNRWA continues to be an essential actor in this regard.
She further visited a refugee registration centre of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). “It is clear that Jordan is a regional model in hospitality towards refugees. Its commitment to voluntary and sustainable returns of Syrian refugees can only be commended and is fully supported by the EU. Together we must make sure that the most vulnerable refugees continue to enjoy their rights, protection and essential services,” the EUSR underscored.
The EUSR delivered a keynote address during the Petra National Trust (PNT) Award Ceremony, hosted by HRH Princess Dana Firas, also attended by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Emad Hijazin. In her speech, the EUSR highlighted the importance of cultural rights for the preservation of identity, and also underlined that in armed conflict, IHL obliges parties to respect cultural and religious sites.
The Jordanian government initiated the drafting of a new Comprehensive National Plan for Human Rights for 2016-2025, under the leadership of Minister of Justice Bassam Talhouni. The EUSR encourages the Jordanian authorities to take full advantage of its commitments made in the context of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and to engage with diverse civil society and UN actors in the preparation of the National Plan.