Category: General

Amman: Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Liberties and Human Rights Committee, Abdullah Abu Zeid, highlighted Jordan’s commitment to upholding information rights during a committee meeting held on Sunday. He emphasized the country’s ratification of numerous international treaties aimed at protecting the right to access information.

Abu Zeid underscored that the Jordanian Constitution not only guarantees freedom of expression but also highlights various national institutions dedicated to safeguarding human rights.

The meeting, which aimed to discuss a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), addressed aspects of social accountability mechanisms and the right to access information in Jordan. Representatives from the organization and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation were in attendance.

Abu Zeid commended Jordan’s legislative progress, noting the approval of a comprehensive set of laws aimed at achieving the highest standards of justice and transpar
ency. Among these, the most recent one guarantees the right to access information, reinforcing the principles of transparency.

The Chairman also shed light on the pivotal role played by the Oversight and Legislative Council. He explained that the Lower House of Parliament comprises twenty committees, including the Public Liberties and Human Rights Committee, which focuses on reviewing laws and proposals related to human rights. Additionally, it monitors the executive authority to ensure the protection of human rights and addresses complaints related to human rights violations within the Kingdom.

Abu Zeid further stressed that the committee consistently monitors both domestic and international human rights issues. It has paid particular attention to unprecedented violations and crimes against the people of the Gaza Strip.

Regarding the international community’s stance, Abu Zeid pointed out the apparent powerlessness in the face of what Israel and its Western supporters describe as a “just war” and “legitima
te self-defense.”

He expressed concern that with each strike by the occupation army on Gaza, international humanitarian law’s values and principles erode, leading to a situation where the international system relating to human rights risks losing credibility and significance.

Ghazi Thneibat, head of the Legal Committee, highlighted the significant amendments made to the law guaranteeing the right to access information. He described this law as modern and aligned with recently enacted legislation.

Thneibat noted that a joint committee introduced limited amendments to the draft law submitted to the Council four years ago. These amendments included the participation of the Jordan Press and Bar associations, as well as representatives from civil society, in the Information Council.

Representatives Majid Rawashdeh and Asma Rawahneh emphasized the House of Representatives’ commitment to transparency in the legislation it approves. They underlined that Jordanian laws, particularly the Jordanian Constitution, ens
ure the right to freedom of expression.

The law guaranteeing the right to access information incorporates crucial provisions, including the establishment of the Information Council, the involvement of civil society organizations, and the obligation for departments to classify information according to the information classification and indexing mechanism.

The leader of the OECD team clarified that the organization maintains a technical, non-political focus. She explained that the report aims to uphold the highest standards of transparency and impartiality, ultimately contributing to safeguarding the right to information. The report’s central focus is on social accountability and the promotion of transparency.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Israeli occupation forces committed 13 “massacres” during the past 24 hours in the Gaza Strip, leaving 127 dead and 205 injured, according to health officials in Gaza.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Sunday that the number of deaths in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing aggression by Israeli forces rose to 28,985, and the wounded to 68,883.

The Ministry confirmed that there are still bodies under the rubble and on the roads, as the occupation prevents ambulance and civil defense crews from reaching them.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Higher Population Council has highlighted a significant shortfall in the early detection of reproductive cancers within Jordan.

It reported that a minimal percentage of women of childbearing age have engaged in either self-examination or professional evaluation for breast cancer in the past year, despite it being the most prevalent cancer type among this demographic.

In a communique released by the Council on Sunday, coinciding with World Cancer Day on February 4th, it was noted that only 21% of women have undergone such examinations, with the figure slightly higher, at 27%, among those in the latter stages of their reproductive years.

This is in the context of a vigorous national initiative aimed at promoting early detection of this malignancy.

The survey revealed that 50% of women refrained from mammography due to perceived lack of necessity, while 38% cited the absence of symptoms or illness as their reason. Other deterrents included apprehension about diagnosis outcomes, insufficient famili
al or spousal support, issues related to service access, financial constraints, among others.

Pertaining to cervical cancer, the Council’s statement pointed out that although approximately 65% of reproductive-age women are aware of the Pap smear test, a screening procedure for cervical cancer, less than 24% of previously married women of childbearing age have actually undergone this test. The participation rate increases to one-third among women nearing the end of their reproductive phase but drops to 19% among those from the most disadvantaged socioeconomic strata.

It is important to note the absence of a cervical cancer vaccine provision in Jordan, attributed to the high costs associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing and vaccination, which are essential for cervical cancer prevention. Furthermore, there is a notable disparity in the emphasis placed on early cancer detection campaigns between genders, with male-specific cancers receiving considerably less attention.

The Council emphasized its co
mmitment to the enactment of the National Strategy for Reproductive and Sexual Health, which encompasses a broad spectrum of reproductive health aspects as highlighted during the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development.

This strategy serves as a foundational guideline for the universal accessibility to integrated services and information regarding reproductive and sexual health, aiming to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-2030, particularly the third goal focusing on health and well-being.

The Council stressed the necessity for a holistic, interdisciplinary, and evidence-informed approach to cancer burden management in the Kingdom, advocating for comprehensive health coverage that spans prevention, early detection, accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and palliative care.

This approach underlines the importance of formulating national cancer prevention and control strategies grounded in a cohesive and strategic framework.

According to the National Cancer Registr
y in Jordan, cancer ranks as the second leading cause of mortality, with a total of 10,006 new cases diagnosed in 2019, 76% of which affected Jordanian nationals. Women accounted for over half of these diagnoses, representing 52.1% of cases compared to 47.9% among men.

The crude incidence rate of cancer among Jordanians was reported at approximately 104 deaths per 100,000 population, with gender-specific rates of about 98 for males and 110 for females.

The Central region recorded the highest incidence of cancer, contributing to 71.2% of the total cases among Jordanians, followed by 11% in the North Region, and 4.3% in the southern Region.

Analysis of the 2019 data by age indicated that 44.5% of cancer cases were diagnosed in individuals aged 60 years and above, with males predominating in this age group at 57% compared to females. In contrast, females constituted a majority of 61.7% in the 30-59 year age group. Furthermore, 4.1% of new cancer diagnoses were among individuals younger than 15 years.

Globall
y, cancer represents a significant cause of mortality and a major barrier to increasing life expectancy across all countries. According to the World Health Organization, cancer is either the first or second leading cause of death before the age of 70 in 112 out of 183 countries, and ranks as the third or fourth contributing factor in 23 additional countries.

Statistically, one in every five men and one in six women worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, with mortality rates indicating that one in every eight men and one in every eleven women with cancer will succumb to the disease.

The disparity in cancer treatment and care availability is stark, with only about 14% of patients in need of palliative care receiving it. Whereas comprehensive treatment is accessible in over 90% of high-income countries, less than 15% of low-income countries can offer similar services.

World Cancer Day, observed today, is part of a global initiative spearheaded by the International Union Against Cancer aime
d at raising awareness, enhancing education, and motivating actions at individual, collective, and governmental levels.

It is asserted that over one-third of cancer cases can be prevented, and an additional third can be effectively treated if detected early and managed appropriately. Implementing strategies tailored to resource availability for prevention, early detection, and treatment could save millions of lives annually.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Gaza: Israeli airstrikes killed 8 Palestinians and injured others in Deir al-Balah area in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said on Sunday.

According to the sources, Israeli occupation aircraft bombed a mosque and two houses in Deir al-Balah area.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) has issued over 300 authorizations for the installation of electrical metering devices dedicated to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, with the current tally of licensed EV charging facilities standing at 63 across the Kingdom.

The Commission’s records indicate a distribution of 49 publicly accessible charging stations alongside 14 privately owned stations. Additionally, there exists the capacity for the installation of multiple charging units at a single site, with 230 charging facilities currently holding establishment permits and undergoing the final stages of their licensing process.

Engineer Zaid Saaida, the Chief of the EMRC, highlighted the introduction of incentive schemes aimed at fostering investment within the EV charging domain, particularly emphasizing the deployment of rapid and ultra-rapid charging technologies.

He underscored that the development of the EV charging infrastructure is aligned with the national strategy fo
r economic modernization, which includes a detailed plan to bolster green mobility initiatives.

In the preceding year, the Commission processed 145 new applications for licensing or permit issuance pertaining to both public and private EV charging stations. This comprised 132 applications for public charging station permits, 6 for private station permits, and 7 for public station licenses.

Furthermore, the Commission reviewed 10,618 applications across various sectors for licensing within the same period, rejecting 72 of these applications due to non-compliance with regulatory standards.

The past year also saw a significant uptick in electric vehicle registrations, with a 146% increase recorded, elevating the count to 38,277 vehicles from the previous year’s 15,576.

Conversely, registrations for gasoline-powered vehicles saw a decline of 28%, totaling 11,263, down from 15,634 in 2022. Diesel vehicle registrations similarly fell by 14%, amounting to 8,104 compared to 9,456 in the preceding year.

Source:
Jordan News Agency

Muscat, Actor Ayman Zidane won the award for Best Actor for his role in the feature film ‘Lead Days’ at the 5th Cinemana International Festival, recently concluded its activities in Sultanate of Oman.

The film is produced by the General Cinema Corporation and addresses Syrian society in the light of the reflections of the war on people and the nature of the relationships generated under its influence.

The festival includes a wide array of films from Oman and abroad, including Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Sudan, and the UAE.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency