Jordan Times
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Trademark, NCHR laws on
House agenda today
Senate holds first meeting of extraordinary session
By Sahar Aloul
AMMAN — Two laws are on today's Lower House agenda: The Trademark Law and the
National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) Law, both of which are temporary laws
sent to the House for deliberation and final endorsement.
The Trademark Law was carried over from the last session and is not expected to
see much resistance or discussion over its articles.
The law was initially introduced by former Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb's
government in 2003 as a replacement to the 1953 trademark law.
The reasons for introducing the law then were listed as: The modernisation of
economic legislation to go hand-in-hand with economic reforms undertaken by the
government, regulating trademarks registered in the Ministry of industry and
Trade and setting up a mechanism for deleting trademarks and legal prosecution.
The 21-article law was approved by the House Financial and Economic Committee
without any substantial changes and is expected to pass today's afternoon
session with the same ease.
The NCHR Law, however, was reviewed and many of its articles redrawn by the
Freedom and Citizen's Rights Committee who studied the law.
The committee's rapporteur MP Mohammad Aqel (Balqaa, 4th District), said the
House is likely to reach conciliation over the law since the Islamic Action
Front (IAF), the main opposition bloc in Parliament, appear to agree with the
new law.
“Debate over the law is likely to take place but I believe the House will reach
common ground over its different articles since the law in its essence fulfils
our minimum requirements,” Aqel, who is an IAF member, told The Jordan Times.
He added that the amendments introduced by the committee were made with the full
cooperation of the centre's board of trustees.
The main modifications include a proposal to change the centre's name to the
National Human Rights Commission “giving a better reflection of its work,” Aqel
said.
Moreover, the creation of a CEO post in addition to the existing human right's
commissioner position, is a move according to the IAF MP that would enhance
performance and separate duties.
The committee's amendments imposed a legal penalty on any party that would block
or slow down the centre's access to any data it requires.
But according to the rapporteur, the main modification made by his committee
requires the NCHR board of trustees to present its annual human rights report to
His Majesty the King.
“I believe this is the first law we deliberate that involves the person of His
Majesty in reviewing any kind of report,” Aqel said.
He added that this shows Jordan's dedication to applying human rights concepts
on all aspects and sectors of society.
Meanwhile, the Senate held their first meeting during this extraordinary
parliamentary session, during which they approved several laws received from the
Lower House.
These included the Tafileh Technical University Law, which was introduced to
raise the quality of education in the southern governorate from community
college level to a full-fledged university.
The UN agreement on fighting corruption was also endorsed by the Upper House so
were the Higher Media Council and Land Tax laws.
The laws were all referred to the Senate following Lower House endorsement on
Sunday.