The National Disability Strategy of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Legislation and its evolvement

Legislations

Role:

Legislations are the essential tool and for the implementation of all policies and strategic plans. There are two types of legislations targeted:

1.     Legislations specific to persons with disabilities which encompass their rights, needs and aspirations, such as the Jordanian Disability Welfare Law 12/1993.

2.     National legislations which regulate the lives of all citizens without discrimination on the basis of ability or gender.

The Jordanian Disability Welfare Law 12/1993 consists of 12 articles.  It is general and encompasses all the rights related to the needs, aspirations, and lives of persons with disabilities. This law has contributed to a number of achievements in the area of furthering the rights of persons with disabilities in Jordan. Although the Jordanian Constitution guarantees those rights for all without exception, the specific law on the rights of persons with disabilities has yielded more positive results for this segment of society in particular and for society in general.

The National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, referred to in the Law, did not play a prominent role in this area. Therefore, there was a need to link it to a more effective executive office if it was to function as an effective coordination umbrella. The Law also did not cover all types of disabilities and many of its bylaws were not binding. It also did not address the needs for entire categories of disabilities. This made it necessary to introduce changes and amendments.

Additionally, the rest of Jordan’s legislations did not benefit persons with disabilities in their active implementation. In fact, these laws did not guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities, equal participation or equalization of opportunities in a satisfactory manner. Moreover, civil society organizations had not been successful in applying pressure to implement equalization of opportunities, justice, and integration.

Therefore, the target here is the development and amendment of specific and general legislations in order to guarantee the right of persons with disabilities to integration and equality.

Main Policies and Proposed Initiatives:

1.     Amendment of the Jordanian Disability Welfare Law 12/1993 in light of past practices (See annex 1.).

2.     Survey and review of all laws and legislation in Jordanian to determine their compatibility with the rights of persons with disabilities as citizens, identifying the necessary amendments, and working on altering them.

3.     Ensure that new legislations approved by nation’s parliament are compatible with the rights and meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

Priority Programs and Activities:

Priority programs and activities—Legislations and their development