Human rights in Jordan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jordan
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Jordan

King Abdullah II Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit National Assembly Assembly of Senators Chamber of Deputies Political parties Elections Governorates Foreign relations Human rights
Other countries • Politics Portal view • talk • edit

The record of human rights in Jordan continues to be a matter of concern for many international human rights groups. Jordan uses the death penalty, and allegedly, torture and other inhumane practices. So-called "honor killings" are often unpunished by police, and freedom of expression is curtailed in a number of areas.^[1] However, in recent years, there have been reforms in an attempt to improve the situation.

1 Treaties
2 Freedom of the press
3 Unrestrained violence
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Treaties

Jordan is a party to many human rights agreements, including^[2]

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts
Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour
Equal Remuneration Convention
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
Employment Policy Convention
Convention against Discrimination in Education

[edit] Freedom of the press

In the fall of 2001, strict new laws restricted freedom of the press in Jordan, leading to the detention and imprisonment of several journalists and leaders of peaceful associations.^[1] In the 2005 Worldwide Press Freedom Index maintained by Reporters Without Borders, Jordan ranked 96th out of 167 countries, putting it second-best in the Middle East, behind only Kuwait.^[3] In May 2006, two journalists involved in reprinting three of the 12 Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons were issued a two-month prison sentence.^[4]

[edit] Unrestrained violence

According to a report by Amnesty International, intelligence agents in Jordan frequently use torture to extract confessions from terror suspects. Common tactics include, "beating, sleep deprivation, extended solitary confinement, and physical suspension." Palestinians and suspected Islamists are treated especially harshly. Though Jordan has improved many procedures in this respect, agents at the General Intelligence Department remain largely immune to punishment.^[5] Additionally, practitioners of "honor killings", that is, the killing of a girl or woman for breaking serious social conventions, goes largely unpunished.^[1] Despite the efforts of King Abdullah, punishments for honor killings remain light.^[6]