Global Integrity Report

Jordan Home

Facts

Timeline

Notebook

Integrity Scorecard

2007 Assessment

Jordan: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Jordan: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: National Ombudsman
Indicators		Score
52	In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?	100
53	Is the national ombudsman effective?	89
54	Can citizens access the reports of the ombudsman?	100

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?

52: In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Many organizations do the functions of the national ombudsman, such as the National Center for Human Rights [ LINK ] and the Higher Council for Media, which acts as ombudsman for media issues [ LINK ] and the Audit Bureau, which exists according to Audit Bureau Law No 28 of 1952 and its amendments, with the mandate to: 1. Monitor the entries of the state, its expenditure, the methods of spending, the accounts related to deposits advances, loans, settlements, and warehouses/storage 2. Offer consultancy to the institutions subjected to monitoring in the fields of accountancy 3. Monitor public finances in order to ensure that money is spent in a legal and effective way 4. Ensure the application of environmental legislation that is in force, in coordination with the competent parties 5. Ensure that the administrative decisions and procedures adopted by the institutions subjected to monitoring are in accordance with the legislation in force 6. Present a yearly report for each financial year to the Chamber of Deputies, including the opinion and remarks of the Audit Bureau, as well as the infractions and the accountability for such infractions, at the beginning of each term of Parliament or whenever required by the Chamber of Deputies [ LINK ]

Is the national ombudsman effective?

53a: In law, the ombudsman is protected from political interference.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: National Center for Human Rights Law No (51) of 2006 Article 3: (A) A center, called The National Center for Human Rights shall be established in the Kingdom as a legal personality enjoying financial and administrative independence. In this capacity, the Center may exercise the full right of legal disposal, including drawing of contracts and ownership of movable and immovable properties, and resort to the judiciary for litigation.

53b: In practice, the ombudsman is protected from political interference.

Score:

100

Comments: There is a widely spread opinion that the National Center for Human Rights and the Higher Media Council do enjoy political independence and their ability to remain independent depends on the character and strength of the president of each entity.

References: Interview with HE Ibrahim Ezzeddin, former president of the Higher Media Council, currently serving on the boards of the National Center for Human Rights, Central Bank of Jordan, and the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan

Interview with Kinda Hattar, former employee at the National Center for Human Rights

Interview with Dr. Mohammed Al Masri, Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan.

53c: In practice, the head of the ombudsman agency/entity is protected from removal without relevant justification.

Score:

100

Comments: The law allows for the removal of the president. From this angle, there is no protection, but it is a fair process of deliberation and negotiations.

53d: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) has a professional, full-time staff.

Score:

100

Comments:

53e: In practice, agency appointments support the independence of the ombudsman agency (or agencies).

Score:

100

Comments: The National Center for Human Rights is an independent body that has jurisdiction over its staff appintments.

References: Interview with HE Ibrahim Ezzeddin, Fomer President of the Higher Media Council. Currently serves on the boards of the National Center for Human Rights, Central Bank of Jordan, and the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan. Ibrahim Al Jazy, professor of human rights law at the University of Jordan.

53f: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) receives regular funding.

Score:

100

Comments: The National Center for Human Rights and the Higher Media Council receive public funding on a regular basis.

53g: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) makes publicly available reports.

Score:

100

Comments: The National Center for Human rights produces and publishes frequent reports on Prisons, Elections, Jordan's commitments to international treaties to which Jordan is signatory.

53h: In practice, when necessary, the national ombudsman (or equivalent agency or agencies) initiates investigations.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The agency aggressively starts investigations -- or participates fully with cooperating agencies\' investigations -- into judicial misconduct. The agency is fair in its application of this power. <p>50 Score Criteria: The agency will start or cooperate in investigations, but often relies on external pressure to set priorities, or has limited effectiveness when investigating. The agency, though limited in effectiveness, is still fair in its application of power. <p>0 Score Criteria: The agency rarely investigates on its own or cooperates in other agencies\' investigations, or the agency is partisan in its application of this power.$

Comments:

Ibrahim Al Jazy, professor of human rights law at the University of Jordan

53i: In practice, when necessary, the national ombudsman (or equivalent agency or agencies) imposes penalties on offenders.

Score:

100

Comments: Citizens can follow up on complaints. NCHR also can mediate and publish cases of offense in its annual reports and/ or recommend a referral to a legal or judicial body.

Ibrahim Al Jazy, professor of human rights law at the University of Jordan

53j: In practice, the government acts on the findings of the ombudsman agency (or agencies).

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: Ombudsman\'s reports are taken seriously, with negative findings drawing prompt corrective action. <p>50 Score Criteria: In most cases, ombudsman\'s reports are acted on, though some exceptions may occur for politicalally sensitive issues, or particularly resistant agencies. <p>0 Score Criteria: Ombudsman reports are often ignored, or given superficial attention. Ombudsman reports do not lead to policy changes.$

Comments: Citizens can follow up on complaints. NCHR also can mediate and publish cases of offense in its annual reports and/ or recommend a referral to a legal or judicial body.

Peer Review Comments: It is not always the case.

53k: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) acts on citizen complaints within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments:

Peer Review Comments: It is not always the case.

Can citizens access the reports of the ombudsman?

54a: In law, citizens can access reports of the ombudsman(s).

Score:

YES

Comments: The reports of the National Center for Human rights are available online, in print, and free of charge to interested individuals.

Peer Review Comments: Since there are several "ombudsman" agencies, it would be useful to spell out the details of whether/how frequently each publishes a report.

54b: In practice, citizens can access the reports of the ombudsman(s) within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: The reports are available online and can be accessed by anyone.

54c: In practice, citizens can access the reports of the ombudsman(s) at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments: The reports are available free of charge.