The Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists presents “shadow report” alongside the Jordanian government’s report to the Committee against Torture in Geneva
Report includes discussion of the attacks against journalists in al-Nakheel Square in 2011
The Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ) participated in the 56th session of the Committee against Torture discussion regarding Jordan from the 19th to the 21st of November in Geneva. CDFJ has presented a “shadow report” to supplement the Jordanian government’s third periodic report.
The Jordanian government previously presented to the United Nations its report regarding the extent of its compliance with international agreements against torture.
CDFJ Executive President Nidal Mansour participated in the committee discussions. Mansour presented CDFJ’s report on developments in Jordan including those related to the attacks on journalists in July of 2011 in al-Nakheel Square. The incident was never investigated, weakening Jordan’s record of compliance with the Convention against Torture.
Mansour said that “the goal of CDFJ’s report is to assist both the Committee against Torture at the United Nations and the Jordanian government to engage in an open and fruitful dialogue which aims at strengthening Jordan’s compliance with the letter and spirt of the convention in addition to encouraging the Jordanian government to adopt the optional protocol against torture.”
The report includes multiple cases of physical abuse and detainment of journalists that violate international anti-torture standards.
These organizations discussed the extent to which the Jordanian government has addressed the committee’s requests.
The Jordanian government discussed its third periodic report on Monday the 23rd. . The government answered participants’ questions and inquiries based on the recommendations of the committee published following the second periodic report of May 2010.
It should be noted that the committee has previously requested from the government the results of legal investigations into the use of excessive force by Security Directorate officers during a protest at al-Nahkil square in Amman in July 2011. This is in addition to requests for information regarding claims of the increasing use of routine torture and mistreatment in detention facilities including facilities under the jurisdiction of the General Intelligence Directorate and the Criminal Investigation Department.
Jordan ratified the Convention against Torture in 1991 and the government presented its first required periodic report in 1995.
