Jordanian & Moroccan Parliamentarians exchange views on policy reform on art. 308 of Jordan’s Penal Code
Date:
Amman, 18th May 2016. UN Women, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco to Jordan, organized a roundtable discussion between Jordanian and Moroccan MPs at the Jordanian Lower House to exchange views and good practices regarding the current amendments of the Jordanian Penal Code. Attended by 18 participants, the event represented a positive example of South-to-South cooperation in the MENA region.
A focused discussion took place on the current review of the Jordanian Penal Code in addition to other relevant laws in Morocco, whereas Moroccan parliamentarians shared lessons learnt from the internal process which led to the abolishment article 474 in Morocco - a similar provision to article 308 of the Jordanian Penal Code.
The importance of establishing a strong link between civil society and members of the Parliament was emphasized by the Moroccan delegation, in order to ensure an effective inclusion of the “real feel of what’s on the street” and to act in the best interest of citizens.
The Head of the Legislative Committee of the Jordanian Parliament and Jordanian MPs presented current challenges faced in addressing cases of rape in terms of legislation, providing an overview of directions taken within the Lower House in the current legislative reform process. A particular emphasis was placed on the importance of continuing advocacy efforts in order to promote women’s rights in legislative advancements.