Jordan Times
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Queen lends full support to human rights development efforts
AMMAN (JT) — On the occasion of Human Rights Day,
celebrated annually on Dec. 10, Her Majesty Queen Rania underlined the need to
support national efforts geared towards the protection and promotion of human
rights.
The Queen's comments came during a meeting with University of Jordan (UJ)
Director of International Relations Professor Ahmad Majdoubeh, on Thursday.
Majdoubeh briefed the Queen on a human rights-based masters programme currently
being developed in coordination with the University of Pavia, in Italy, with the
support of the Italian ministry of education. The programme will eventually
evolve into a Human Rights and Human Development Centre (HRHDC), hosted at the
UJ.
The idea for the centre was put into motion when Queen Rania met with
representatives from the Italian university in September this year, and
discussed prospects for collaboration between Jordanian and Italian institutions
of higher education.
During the meeting, the Queen welcomed the idea of setting up a network of
centres for advanced studies in the Middle East linked to the university and
discussed the prospect of establishing one in Jordan specialising in human
rights.
During Thursday's meeting, Queen Rania was acquainted with the nature of the
masters programme, its anticipated structure, regulations and beneficiaries.
Regarding the latter, the Queen emphasised that the selection process was
important and should identify achievers.
The two-year programme, based on UJ's structure and regulations, will attract a
specific calibre of students who can excel in the field. Targeting 15-20
students per year, the course will include an international dimension, whereby
both Jordanian, Italian and European students and professors will benefit from
an exchange programme, inclusive of research-based activities, as well as
teaching.
Within the framework of partnership between UJ and the University of Pavia,
joint research activities will be conducted amongst students of both
institutions, the network of centres in the region and the EU network of partner
universities.
A memorandum of understanding to that effect will be signed by the two entities
in 2006.
In addition, the exchange of academic material and publications will be
encouraged among institutions, their faculty members and research communities.
Acting as a hub for human rights issues in the region, the HRHDC will unite and
coordinate various efforts in the Kingdom and work closely with other relevant
centres in Jordan towards the development and sustainability of the field as a
whole.
The centre is also anticipated to provide employment opportunities for those
within the institution and beyond.
Queen Rania is the honorary chairperson of the Royal Commission for Human
Rights, which resulted in the establishment of the National Centre for Human
Rights.
The centre seeks to foster and deepen greater awareness and understanding of
human rights to make policies on a par with international standards.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by a UN General Assembly
resolution on December 10, 1948 and commemorated as Human Rights Day starting in
1950.