Amman: His Royal Highness Prince Mired bin Raad, Chief Chamberlain and President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, met with a European delegation headed by European Union Ambassador to Jordan Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas at the Council’s headquarters. The delegation also included the French and Belgian military attach©s.
According to Jordan News Agency, Prince Mired reviewed Jordan’s progress in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities since the Kingdom ratified the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. He emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to prioritizing disability rights within national institutions, while addressing persistent challenges and efforts to overcome them in cooperation with relevant bodies.
Chatzisavas praised Jordan’s experience in hosting the World Disability Summit, in partnership with Germany and the International Disability Alliance, and commended the Kingdom’s efforts to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and promote their integration into society.
Muhannad Azzeh, Secretary-General of the Council, highlighted key legislative reforms, including the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law No. 20 of 2017, the region’s first comprehensive anti-discrimination law. This law ensures that persons with disabilities enjoy rights and freedoms on an equal basis with others.
Azzeh also discussed executive strategies from the law, such as the Ten-Year Strategy for Inclusive Education and the National Strategy for Alternatives to Shelters. Jordan was chosen to host the World Disability Summit due to its legislative and policy progress, enhancing its international standing and fostering global partnerships.
Additionally, Azzeh noted Jordan’s significant role in shaping the summit’s “Amman-Berlin Declaration,” which introduced the 15 for 15 principle, urging states to allocate 15 percent of international cooperation projects to include persons with disabilities. The declaration has been endorsed by 95 entities worldwide.
Jordan led the summit with 133 commitments from 88 entities across various sectors. Azzeh emphasized that these commitments require dedicated resources and sustained engagement with persons with disabilities and their organizations to ensure full implementation within the agreed timelines.