Amman, Oct. 6 (Petra) -- The Jordanian parliamentary delegation, headed by First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of Representatives Khamis Hussein Atieh, continued its participation in the 153rd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in the United Republic of Tanzania, alongside delegations from more than 140 member countries.

Atieh attended the IPU Governing Council meeting, the organization's highest decision-making body, which comprises representatives from member parliaments to discuss operational matters, approve memberships, adopt draft resolutions, and elect standing committees and governing bodies.

Speaking during a meeting of the IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, MP Samer Al-Azaideh emphasized the need to step up parliamentary cooperation to construct robust legislative frameworks that translate human rights, democracy, and inclusive social development into action particularly measures protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and guaranteeing equal opportunities.

Al-Azaideh stated that the Jordanian House of Representatives works continuously to highlight the Kingdom’s principled stance on regional and international issues, foremost among them the Palestinian cause.

Recalling the address of His Majesty King Abdullah II before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Al-Azaideh noted that the speech laid out a clear roadmap reflecting Jordan's firm positions regarding regional developments, the Palestinian cause, and the Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. He stressed His Majesty’s call to protect innocent lives, enforce international law and international humanitarian law without double standards, and create conditions for a just and comprehensive peace.

Al-Azaideh reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to collaborating with all parties based on the outcomes of the committee’s 152nd session in Istanbul, working in a spirit of teamwork to advance human rights values.

Addressing the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security, MP Arwa Al-Hajaya warned that the succession of global crises is putting international law and diplomacy to a critical test. She asserted that peace cannot be achieved by remaining silent in the face of injustice or merely managing crises until the temporary becomes permanent, but rather through political will that prioritizes law and human dignity over force.

Al-Hajaya highlighted His Majesty King Abdullah II’s statement at UNGA that the international community has spent too long managing conflict rather than resolving it, causing the temporary to become permanent and an imposed policy. She added that international law loses its meaning when violations are ignored for decades and the international community hesitates to hold perpetrators accountable.

While noting that parliamentary diplomacy is not a substitute for official government channels, Al-Hajaya described it as a vital bridge between peoples and decision-making bodies that can keep communication open during formal impasses. She urged parliaments to adhere to the UN Charter, state sovereignty, international humanitarian law, the right to self-determination, the protection of civilians, and the rejection of forced displacement, annexation, settlement activity, and collective punishment.

Al-Hajaya proposed that the IPU establish a permanent program on parliamentary diplomacy and preventive mediation to provide legal expertise, practical skills, early warning mechanisms, and civilian protection. She stressed that sustainable peace requires legitimate institutions and equal enforcement of rules, adding: "There is no peace without justice, no justice without law, and no law of value unless it is respected and enforced." During a discussion on strengthening parliamentary responses to terrorism, MP Ayatullah Freihat noted that Jordan, under His Majesty King Abdullah II, was among the earliest nations to develop a comprehensive legislative and institutional counter-terrorism framework. He stressed that combating terrorism is a legislative, legal, and moral responsibility centered on the rule of law and human rights.

Freihat warned against double standards in the global counter-terrorism framework, questioning how public trust in international law can be maintained when legal standards condemning certain actions are not applied consistently to identical actions committed by others. He pointed to severe violations against civilians under Israeli occupation and the surrounding international legal debate on accountability and impunity.

Changing legal standards based on the actor undermines justice, generates frustration, and feeds violence and extremism, Freihat warned, adding that equal justice under the law is the primary prerequisite for a reliable international system.

Meanwhile, MP Noor Abu Ghoush, President of the Board of Young Parliamentarians of the IPU, chaired the board's meeting to discuss youth participation in the General Assembly, preparations for the upcoming Youth Forum and the 154th General Assembly, and initiatives to enhance the forum’s impact.

In the general debate, Abu Ghoush highlighted that while youth are central to the challenges faced by parliaments, individuals under 30 account for only 2.8 percent of parliamentarians worldwide. She called for youth quotas, greater involvement in committee work prior to legislative enactment, legislative impact assessments, and political education.

Abu Ghoush showcased the Jordanian experience, noting that despite regional and global turmoil, Jordan has pressed ahead with political modernization to expand opportunities for youth in political parties and parliament, alongside economic modernization to address labor market needs. Delivering her speech in Arabic, she noted that inclusion does not mean uniformity but rather making space for difference and listening to all voices.

Later in the day, Abu Ghoush chaired the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, which featured a dialogue with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on global health challenges and the role of young legislators, as well as a hearing session with candidates for the IPU presidency.

The 153rd IPU General Assembly is convening under the theme "Harnessing science, technology, and innovation for a more peaceful and sustainable future," addressing key global parliamentary issues.

//Petra// AF