Background
The Government of Jordan has embarked on a comprehensive judicial reform process, aiming at establishing a more efficient and effective justice system that ensures access to justice for all. The reform process has involved significant amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedures Law, as well as the implementation of non-custodial alternatives, improvements in judicial infrastructure, and the use of modern technology to expedite court proceedings. The reforms have yielded positive results, as reflected in Jordan's rankings in the 2022 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index. However, there are areas for improvement, such as fundamental rights and open government. To address these issues, the Justice Sector Strategy (2022-2026) stresses the need for developing litigation procedures, improving the judicial and law enforcement apparatus, enhancing access to justice, advancing digitalization in the justice sector, and updating legislation on civil and commercial judiciary. Overall, while progress has been made in the reform of the justice sector in Jordan, further reforms, investments, and capacity building are necessary to strengthen the system, enhance access to justice, and consolidate the rule of law in the country.
Objective
The project "Technical Assistance to support the Rule of Law in Jordan" aims to improve the performance and quality of criminal justice chain in Jordan, in line with the Justice Sector Strategy (2022 – 2026).
Approach
Building upon the successes of the previous RoL project (2019-2022) and adopting a comprehensive and needs-driven approach, the RoL project will offer technical support to the Public Security Directorate (PSD), Ministry of Justice, and the Judicial Council. This support will primarily focus on enhancing the capacity of the judiciary to address emerging crime trends, including financial crimes, money laundering, and cybercrimes. Additionally, assistance will be extended to advance the digitization efforts within the criminal justice sector and bolster fair trial standards. Tailored training sessions will be conducted for PSD personnel, covering topics such as the rehabilitation of drug-dependent inmates and the handling of drug-related offenses, aligning with international best practices. Furthermore, the project will provide strategic and policy-level guidance to aid in the refinement of the criminal justice strategy.