Jordan – annual report 2024

Details
Published: September 4, 2025

Strategic Framework

Legal Policy Starting Point

Jordan finds itself in a complex legal and political environment characterised by the modernisation policy initiated by King Abdullah II. This complexity arises from the challenges posed by economic difficulties and social and geopolitical tensions in the region. The reforms aim to strengthen parliamentary participation and ensure the representation of different population groups and political spectrums.

In the area of legal policy, the reform strategy from 2022 to 2026 remains central to the judiciary. The aim is to make court proceedings and work processes more efficient, in particular by speeding up procedures and optimising resources in civil jurisdiction. Another priority is to increase efficiency in commercial law by expanding the commercial divisions of the courts and making them more efficient. A central element of the reforms is the cross-divisional digitalisation of judicial processes, which affects almost all areas of law and continues to represent an economic and legal policy challenge for the country.

Overall, Jordan is at a turning point where the political will to reform must be reconciled with the challenges of an unstable environment. Developments in the country could be significant not only for internal dynamics but also for regional relations. Jordan has the opportunity to act as a pioneer for political modernisation in the region, but success will depend on its ability to gain the trust of its citizens while responding adequately to external challenges.

Overall Concept

Since the start of project work in Jordan in 2006, the IRZ has been supporting various institutions of the Jordanian judiciary with further training, training and counselling measures.

The priorities for institutional support this year were primarily Civil and Commercial Law and the administration of justice. Commercial law issues continue to be at the centre of the Jordanian government’s reform efforts and plans. Advisor support in these areas is intended to help optimise procedural processes and increase the capacity of the Jordanian judiciary in the long term. In this context, the IRZ continued its cooperation with long-standing partners (Ministry of Justice, Judicial Council and Judicial Academy) as well as the cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Investment, which was only established in 2021.

The multi-day working visit by employees of the Jordanian Ministry of Justice to Berlin in December 2024 on the issue of cybercrime built on the measures taken in criminal and penitentiary law in recent years and was particularly relevant in view of the Jordanian cybercrime law that came into force in 2023. The aim is to make a long-term contribution to strengthening a functional and legally secure criminal justice system in ­Jordan through a sustainable exchange of expertise and best practices.

Focus of Activity in 2024

Constitutional Law, Human Rights and their Enforceability

  • Seminar with the Jordanian Constitutional Court on the importance of the primacy of the constitution for the Rule of Law, with a particular focus on the principle of proportionality in Amman

Civil and Commercial Law

  • Judges’ training on arbitration issues in Amman
  • Online mediation training for legal practitioners as multipliers in Civil and Commercial law
  • Online exchange of experience on investment fund regulation issues with the Jordanian Ministry of Investment
  • Online seminar on international commercial law with the priorities ­“Judicial approaches to disputes over documentary credits and ­guarantees in construction contracts”

Administration of Justice

  • Online seminar on the topic of “Fair proceedings and the rights of juvenile offenders in juvenile jurisdiction”
  • Online exchange of experience with the Jordanian Judicial Academy on effective training measures, success models and best practices in training and further training
  • Continuation of the “Training of Trainers” seminar series with the ­priorities “Methodology and didactics for judicial practice” in Amman
  • Hybrid workshop with the Jordanian Judicial Academy on the digitisation process in the notary’s office
  • Exchange of experience on appeal proceedings as part of a study trip to Karlsruhe in cooperation with the Jordanian Judicial Council

Criminal and Penitentiary Law

  • Multi-day working visit by members of the Jordanian Ministry of Justice to Germany to exchange views on “Legal responses to cybercrime in the digital world”

Outlook

IRZ will continue its cooperation with its Jordanian partner institutions in the coming year. In view of Jordan’s diplomatic and mediating role in the Middle East, which is particularly important due to the escalating conflicts there, the country will continue to be supported as an anchor of stability in the region.

In the coming year, cooperation will continue to focus on Civil and Commercial Law and the administration of justice in order to achieve a sustainable impact. There are also plans to focus more on criminal law issues.