Human rights, Jordanian key government priority

The government is monitoring programs and procedures implemented by ministries and other public institutions in the sphere of human rights, said human rights coordinator at the Prime Ministry, Basel Al-Tarawneh.
He told Petra that the quarterly government report, to be issued shortly, outlines a set of measures the government had applied in this area, noting that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research had provided grants, scholarships and loans to underprivileged students.
The aim of the assistance for students in various Jordanian universities, he pointed out, was to ensure that the education-for-all principle is practised on the ground. Besides, the government facilitates students with special needs and aims to abolish the quota-based admission criteria.
Tarawneh also said that the Environment Ministry had, through a compensation programme, sought to protect the biodiversity and fight desertification to rehab and develop pasture land in the Badia region, provided fodder and other aid to livestock breeders and monitored air and water quality to combat pollution.
He also spoke about efforts exerted by the ministry of municipal affairs to promote civil rights in the areas of legislation and municipal elections and also similar efforts made by the ministries of justice and social development.