25-11-2024 | di COOPI

Jordan: COOPI launches a campaign on the rights of people with disabilities under the B-LIEVE project

On November 17, COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale, together with its partner EFE Jordan and other local partners, launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about the rights of people with disabilities in Jordan. The campaign is part of a broader initiative aimed at improving the economic empowerment and social inclusion of vulnerable groups in the country, including women, ex-prisoners, at-risk youth, and people with disabilities.

This initiative is part of the "B-LIEVE project: Increasing livelihood income and empowerment for the elimination of vulnerability in Jordan", which started in 2022 and is funded by the European Union. Through the project, COOPI is committed to enhancing the skills, providing mentoring, financial and psychosocial support, and creating employment opportunities for vulnerable groups.

The awareness campaign promoted within this project focuses on spreading information about the Jordanian disability rights law (Law No. 20 of 2017). The Jordanian Constitution states that "all Jordanians are equal before the law" and guarantees that there will be no discrimination based on race, language, or religion, ensuring equal opportunities in employment and education, within the limits of government capabilities.

In line with these principles, and with international legislation, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Jordan has approved the Disability Law, which is considered one of the most progressive in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) regarding the rights of people with disabilities. The law clearly defines who is considered a person with a disability, taking into account not only the medical condition but also the physical and social environment in which they live.

For the first time in Jordan's legislative history, this law explicitly prohibits any form of discrimination based on disability. The law applies to all aspects of a person's life, including education, employment, and social development programs. For example, Article 17 and Article 21 emphasize the right of people with disabilities to receive basic and specialized training, if they wish. Article 25, furthermore, guarantees non-discrimination in the search for employment, stating that the condition of disability should not be an obstacle to applying for a job.

The full text of the law can be accessed on the website of the Supreme Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the following link.

Since 2017, COOPI has been active in Jordan, carrying out projects aimed at both the local population and the Syrian community in the country. In particular, the organization focuses on women, people with disabilities, ex-prisoners, and at-risk youth, supporting their social and economic inclusion.