Resolution of the International Press Institute's seminar on Freedom of Expression and the Media in Jordan, Amman, 5 February 2000

We, the participants at the seminar on ‘Freedom of Expression and the Media in Jordan’;

Having met in Amman, Jordan, to discuss the principle of freedom of expression and restrictions, both in law and in practice, on full enjoyment of this right for the media in Jordan;

Recalling the free expression principles enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Jordanian Constitution and the National Charter;

Referring to the elaboration of these principles in international law and practice, including through the UNESCO/UN DPI sponsored Sana’a Declaration of 1996, endorsed by all UNESCO member states, including Jordan;

Welcoming recent commitments by the King and senior political figures to promote reform in this area, including by removing the mandatory membership requirement in the Jordan Press Association for journalists, incorporating international treaties into domestic law and repealing the Press and Publications Law;

Call on the government of Jordan to take immediately the following steps to bring its law and practice into conformity with international standards:

• Formally invoke the necessary legal procedures to make international treaties guaranteeing freedom of expression part of the domestic law of Jordan;

• Revoke the Press and Publications Law of 1998 as amended in 1999;

• Amend as necessary provisions in other laws which restrict the content of what may be published to bring them into line with international law, including the Penal Code, the State Security Law, the Law for Protecting State Secrets and Documents and the Contempt of Court Law;

• Stop the practice of pre-trial and other types of detention for publishing and other forms of expression

• Implement concrete measures to end extra-legal forms of harassment of journalists and to facilitate the accreditation of foreign journalists;

• End government control over Jordan Television and Radio;

• Amend the Jordanian Television Law to allow for the establishment and licensing of commercial and community broadcasters;

• Pass a freedom of information law providing for a general right of access to information held by public authorities;

• Review the policy for placing government advertisements in the press to ensure that newspapers are not discriminated against on the basis of their editorial policies;

• Divest itself of all shares in newspapers; and

• Amend the Jordan Press Association Law to end mandatory membership for journalists and to remove all conditions on who may practise journalism.