The first report to observing and monitoring procedures taken by the government to executing the Genève 2013 recommendations.
Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists: the Government Has not fulfilled its UPR commitments.
The legislations pack that is restricting media freedom has not been amended… A national plan that includes indicators and implementation mechanisms is required.
CDFJ has issued its first periodic report that observes and monitors the government’s implementation of the UPR recommendations related to media freedom. The findings of the report which is a part of the “Tagheer for media reform project” prepared by CDFJ, that after more than one year and a half of the human rights recommendations and Jordan accepting the recommendations concerning media, showed that what was executed is still modest and cannot be considered as rapidly and tangibly accomplished, which is the contrary of the government’s instant response towards the recommendations accepted concerning the UPR mechanism.
The report tracks the procedures taken by the government in regards to executing their obligations during the period starting from 1st of January, 2014 until May, 2015.
CDFJ’s executive president, Nidal Mansour stated that this report aims at encouraging the government to executing the UPR recommendations considering the deadline was supposed to be in October, 2013 through tracking any tangible procedures that were accomplished.
Jordan was reviewed in the seventh meeting that was conducted on the 24th of October, 2013. In its fourteenth session on the 31st of Oct, 2013 the UPR crew approved the Jordanian report.
The total of 173 recommendations were submitted including 18 recommendations concerning media and internet freedom and freedom of expression. The report also showed that the Jordanian government has approved 126 recommendations, 33 recommendations were dismissed while 13 were suspended to be reviewed.
The government delegation accepted 15 recommendations concerning freedom of expression, media and internet freedom. The report mentioned the international concerns towards freedom of speech and expression, internet and media freedom through reviewing media recommendations in Genève.
The report was based on 3 major indicators; practices and policies, legislation and international obligations Jordan has committed to executing.
The report concluded that the government didn’t consider the implementation of principles of pairing and amending national legislations based on its voluntary commitment to executing the UPR recommendations.
Stating that what the government has done until now are procedural amendments that left the core of media freedom and freedom of expression intact.
Adding the Government still did not consider fully protecting the right to practicing freedom of expression, in addition to not providing any sufficient guarantees to practicing freedom of speech and expression according to The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The report directed a number of recommendations to the government and civil society organizations, demanding the government to speed up the process to completing its recommendations and commitments included in the UPR relating to media, through reviewing national legislations and pairing those with international commitments especially article number 19 from The International Covenant on Civil and Political Right
