UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001210

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV ELAB KDEM KSEP XE XF XM JO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY AMMAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS STRATEGY

REF: SECSTATE 13796


1. (U) Per reftel, Post is providing the following report on
actions taken by the USG in Jordan during 2002.


2. (SBU) Begin text:

Introduction

Our human rights strategy in Jordan seeks to promote human
rights through a) direct dialogue with the Jordanian
Government and others, b) programs aimed at fostering
elements of human rights, and c) reporting on human rights
activity in Jordan.


A. Dialogue with the Jordanian Government and others

The US Embassy in Amman promotes human rights,
democracy and the rule of law with the Jordanian Government
on a regular basis. We have a strong, multi-faceted
relationship with Jordan, and human rights issues are an
essential component. Our frank dialogue with the Government
has yielded progress. Partly in response to the Embassy's
frequent approaches on human rights issues, the Government
announced in late 2002 the creation of a new Human Rights
Directorate within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is
planning to train diplomats at U.S. institutions of higher
education during 2003. Aside from the new Directorate, the
Government in January 2003 announced a forthcoming Human
Rights Commission, which the Government has indicated will be
independent and have regulatory authority.

Aside from the Jordanian Government, we also meet
regularly with local NGOS, UN officials and human rights
officers of European nations, Canada and the European Council.

On labor issues we maintain an ongoing dialogue with
key actors in the labor sector, including the GOJ, labor
union leaders, International Labor Organization (ILO)
officials, industrial park managers and factory owners. A
primary focus is the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs), in
which we encourage all parties to maintain acceptable labor
standards for Jordan's growing textile industry. We note
that in 2002, labor conditions in the QIZs were generally

good with a trend toward improvement.


B. Embassy Programs

i. Public Diplomacy Programs

The Embassy funds programs to promote human rights
through the Public Diplomacy Section, the cumulative value of
which exceeded 100,000 USD in 2002.

Ongoing judicial reform projects involve a visitors exchange
program for judges and judicial experts. Judicial reform is
particularly important as Jordan is now a member of the WTO
and enjoys a free trade agreement with the United States. We
also fund English language training of Jordanian judges to
broaden the range of information and contacts available to
them. We fund an ongoing series of visits and locally based
training programs for Jordanian journalists and editors, and
translate "best practices" materials for journalists. In the
area of Women and Democracy, we fund projects for women's
advocacy, training of female candidates to run for elected
office, and training staff and volunteers for such campaigns.
We plan to continue our training program for women through
the forthcoming parliamentary elections of 2003. Finally, in
the area of civic education, we are supporting the
translation of a civic education textbook that the Ministry
of Education plans to use in an upcoming pilot project in
Jordanian schools.

In October the Post sponsored a conference for civic
education activists from a dozen Arab countries, including
Jordan, who have founded "Arab Civitas", an NGO aimed at
strengthening civic education in schools and universities
throughout the Arab world.

Public Affairs and USAID plan on signing a PASA agreement
funding human rights and democracy activities in coordination
with an interagency committee at Post.

ii. USAID Programs

USAID programs address human rights issues by promoting a
transparent, efficient and responsive public sector through
good governance, legal reform, and improvement of civic
institutions.

The good governance program, at work throughout Jordan, is
aimed at improving the ability of Jordanians to influence
public policy. The program focuses on, among other things,
establishing E-government and judicial reform. The budget
for good governance programs in 2002 exceeded 4 million USD.
USAID programs work to increase the advocacy ability of
business associations and NGOs. USAID provides technical
assistance to private sector and civil society, (focusing in
large part on women's business groups and organizations)
which seek to participate in public policy making. The 2002
budget for these programs was approximately 400,000 USD.

Throughout its 2002 programs USAID supported women in areas
such as economic participation (1,000,000 USD), access to
health care (12,000,000 USD) and poverty alleviation
(1,300,000 USD).

C. Human Rights Reporting

In addition to the annual Human Rights Report and
International Religious Freedom Report, the Embassy regularly
reports human rights developments via the political and
public diplomacy sections. During the year, we reported on
developments in specific cases, such as Toujan Faisal's
conviction in the State Security Court and subsequent pardon,
and general developments in areas such as honor killings and
improved labor conditions at the Qualifying Industrial Zones.
For more information on these and other cases, please see
our annual Human Rights Report.

GNEHM