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Jordan - NGO Law Monitor - Research Center - ICNL Venezuela Yemen Zimbabwe Population Capital 6,508,887 (July 2012 est.) Amman African Union Association of Southeast Asian Nations Council of Europe League of Arab States Organization of American States Organization of Islamic Cooperation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Type of Government Life Expectancy at Birth Constitutional monarchy Male: 78.82 years Female: 81.61 years (2012 est.) Literacy Rate Male: 95.8% Femaile: 89.2% (2010 est.) Religious Groups Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.) Ethnic Groups Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1% United Nations Human Rights Council GDP Per Capita $5,900 (2011 est.) Global Trends in NGO Law Source: The World Factbook 2009. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2013. Back to Top International Rankings Ranking Body Rank Ranking Scale (best - worst possible) UN Human Development Index 95 (2011) 1 – 182 World Bank Rule of Law Index 62.0 (2011) 100 – 0 World Bank Voice & Accountability Index 25.4 (2011) 100 – 0 Transparency International 58 (2012) 1 – 180 Freedom House: Freedom in the World Status: Not Free Political Rights: 6 Civil Liberties: 5 (2012) Free/Partly Free/Not Free 1 – 7 1 – 7 Foreign Policy: Failed States Index 90 (2012) 177 – 1 Back to Top Legal Snapshot International and Regional Human Rights Agreements Key International Agreements Ratification* Year International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Yes 1975 Optional Protocol to ICCPR (ICCPR-OP1) No -- International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) Yes 1975 Optional Protocol to ICESCR (OP-ICESCR) No -- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women Yes 1974 Yes 1992 No -- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Yes 1991 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (ICRMW) No -- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Yes 2008 http://www.icnl.org/research/monitor/jordan.html[1/18/2013 5:34:00 PM]
Jordan - NGO Law Monitor - Research Center - ICNL Key Regional Agreements Ratification* Year Arab Charter on Human Rights Yes 2004 * Category includes ratification, accession, or succession to the treaty Constitutional Framework The Constitution of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was adopted in 8 January 1952. Relevant constitutional provisions include: Article 15: (1) The State guarantees freedom of opinion, and every Jordanian shall be free to express his opinion by speech, in writing, or by means of photographic representation and other forms of expression, provided that such does not violate the law. (2) Freedom of the press and publications shall be ensured within the limits of the law. (3) Newspapers shall not be suspended from publication nor shall their permits be revoked except in accordance with the provisions of the law. Article 16: (1) Jordanians shall have the right to hold meetings within the limits of the law. (2) Jordanians are entitled to establish societies and political parties provided that the objects of such societies and parties are lawful, their methods peaceful, and their by-laws not contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. (3) The establishment of societies and political parties and the control of their resources shall be regulated by law. National Laws and Regulations Affecting Sector The Law on Societies (Law 51 of 2008); and the Law Amending the Law on Societies (Law 22 of 2009) Instructions to Adjust the Positions of Societies (Ministry of Social Development Instruction 148 of 2010) Regulation on Private Societies (Ministry of Social Development Regulation 32 of 2010) Non-Profit Companies Regulation (Ministry of Industry and Trade Regulation 60 of 2007) Order of Licensing and Registering Youth Clubs and Organizations (2005) System to Identify the Relevant Ministry of Societies (Ministry of Social Development Regulation 13 of 2009) System for the Collection of Charitable Donations (Ministry of Social Development Regulation 1 of 1957) Income Tax Law (Law 57 of 1985) Penal Code (Law 16 of 1960) Articles of Association for the General Union of Voluntary Societies (as amended in 1996) Although the 2009 amendments streamlined and liberalized the 2008 Law on Societies, they have nevertheless been criticized by domestic and international NGOs for not going far enough. Among other changes, procedures allowing for the registration and continued operation of foundations (referred to as “closed societies”) and not-for-profit companies (“private societies”) were added; and the registration process was simplified with the creation of a one-stop location for registration. (Previously registration applications were to be passed between multiple ministries in a lengthy process that allowed for independent approval or rejection of applications by different authorities). Significantly, the 2009 amendments did not liberalize the foreign funding provisions of the 2008 law that require Jordanian societies to get approval from the full Council of Ministers (cabinet) before accepting funding from abroad. Pending NGO Legislative / Regulatory Initiatives The Ministry of Social Development has announced an intention to amend the Law on Societies, but as of this writing no information has been made public concerning the content of the amendments. It is unclear whether or not amending the law will remain a priority following national parliamentary elections in January 2013. Back to Top Legal Analysis Organizational Forms According to the Law 51 of 2008 as amended by Law 22 of 2009, there are three (3) available legal forms for civil society. Foreign not-for-profit organizations are also permitted to establish branch offices in Jordan. Society: A society is a group of not less than seven individuals that provide services or conduct activities on a voluntary basis. Societies are registered at the Ministry of Social Development and supervised by the competent ministry to which the society’s objectives are related. Membership in a society is open to anyone http://www.icnl.org/research/monitor/jordan.html[1/18/2013 5:34:00 PM]
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