UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan, Sheri Ritsema-Anderson's openning remarks at a Workshop for civil society on Universal Periodic Review and engagement with the Treaty Bodies

Dear Mr. Shaqoura, Regional Representative of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,

Thank you for organizing this workshop with your team from Beirut, and with UNESCO and my colleagues from the UN in Jordan,

Dear participants,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am happy to welcome you to this UPR training.

This year we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR). Back in 1948, following the devastation of World War II, the world took an enormous step forward with the creation of the UDHR, which enshrines the rights of all human beings.

After more than seven decades since its adoption and despite the enormous challenges we are facing, the UDHR continues to inspire positive change toward a more equal and inclusive world for the benefit of us all.

And in order to realize this inclusive world for the benefit of us all, we need to take stock from time to time - to identify remaining challenges, define action to overcome these and also celebrate achievements.

In its 2022 Voluntary National Review reporting on the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Government of Jordan confirmed that the greatest progress was made in ensuring the rights to food, water and sanitation, quality education, and regarding infrastructure, industry, innovation and responsible production and consumption. The assessment also suggested that more efforts be directed at reaching gender equality, reducing poverty and inequalities and achieving decent work and economic growth.

The adoption in 2022 of the Food Security Strategy and the National Nutrition Strategy attest to this progress but in a global context of growing food insecurity, their implementation will be vital. The adoption of the Child Rights Law has been another important milestone. The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities who visited Jordan in September 2022 welcomed Jordan’s commitment and political will to include people with disabilities in all aspects of society including through a sophisticated body of law but again also made extensive recommendations as to what remains to be done.

You as civil society have a crucial role to play in identifying issues, and contributing to finding and implementing solutions while noting that the primary responsibility remains with the duty-bearer, the State, to realize human rights in accordance with the seven human rights treaties, which Jordan has ratified. The UPR will present one major opportunity for Jordan to assess its achievements and continue to pursue the implementation of human rights with your constructive engagement.

You have a crucial role to contribute to the political, administrative and economic modernization processes in Jordan and to realize the 2030 Agenda to ensure “Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All”.

I am very happy that together with the Government of Jordan, the United Nations family joins hands in supporting increased civic engagement, and to further build on the achievements in securing human rights for all. And I am very confident that this workshop is helpful in this regard. I wish you a fruitful learning experience together.