Delegation participants and Facility Director Ms. Anke Stein during the visit to the Moabit correctional facility. Jordan
Increasing efficiency in criminal proceedings was the focus of a study trip that the IRZ carried out in cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Justice and the Jordanian Judicial Council. The event enabled the participants to gain a deeper insight into German criminal proceedings. The trip is part of the project funded by the Federal Foreign Office entitled “Promotion of Legal Certainty: Support for Criminal Law Reforms in Jordan (2020-2023)”.
The Jordanian delegation consisted of representatives from the Jordanian Ministry of Justice, the Judicial Council and the Directorate of National Security, and was headed by His Excellency the Secretary General of the Jordanian Ministry of Justice, Dr. Saad Al Louzi, who came to Berlin from 18-22 September 2023 to visit various German judicial institutions and judicial authorities. The delegation was welcomed on the first day by a representative from the Jordanian Embassy in Berlin and the IRZ General Director, Dr. Frauke Bachler.
Sub-department Head Dr. Sebastian Jeckel received the delegation At the Federal Ministry of Justice. Speakers from the RB2 Department for Criminal Procedure gave insights into current comprehensive reform processes in the criminal justice system, particularly in the area of digitalisation.
The participants also visited the Tiergarten Local Court and learned about the “court structure”, “court procedures”, “specialisation of criminal judges”, and exchanged views on the current challenges in criminal courts.
The schedule was rounded off by a visit to the social services of the Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection. The focus here was to discuss court and probation services. The topic of alternative punishments was of particular interest to the Jordanian delegation, as alternative punishments are being increasingly used in Jordan to relieve the overcrowding in prisons. In addition, the visit to the Moabit correctional facility gave the participants an insight into the structure of pre-trial detention and how to deal with overcrowding. The delegation also had an opportunity to gain an insight into the prison cells, exercise yard and the communal areas.
The study trip concluded with an expert talk on the working methods and areas of responsibility of the German Federal Bar (BRAK). In this context, the BRAK explained the competencies of a criminal and public defender.
Two further measures during the year will build on the content explored in the study trip.
The IRZ would like to thank the German institutions and authorities for the friendly and instructive reception and thanks the delegation participants for the goal-oriented exchange and successful cooperation, and is looking forward to future seminars.
Training of trainers on the investigation process and its special features in cases of human trafficking and money laundering with participants from the Jordanian Judicial Council and the Directorate for National Security. Jordan
The two-day training of trainers on “The investigation process and its special features in cases of human trafficking and money laundering” was held in Amman on 4-5 July, 2023 as part of the project “Increasing Efficiency in Criminal Proceedings”, which the IRZ is implementing with the Jordanian Ministry of Justice and the Jordanian Judicial Council. The seminar is part of the project “Promotion of Legal Certainty: Support for Criminal Law Reforms in Jordan (2020-2023)” funded by the Federal Foreign Office.
Jordan is pursuing a strategic plan up to 2026 which, among others, aims to create a transparent and more efficient criminal court system. Mr. Qais Al-Ghazawi, judge at the Zarqa Court, kicked the seminar off by highlighting the great interest shown by the Jordanian partners and the importance of a close working relationship.
On the first day, the focus of the two-day training of trainers was on the specifics of the investigation process in human trafficking cases. Judge Dr. Thaer Nassar, Public Prosecutor in Amman, gave an insight into the structure and procedure of the investigation process in Jordan. He paid particular attention to the structure of the cooperation between the Public Prosecutor's Office, the court police and the Directorate of Public Security. Gunnar Schenk, Chief Detective at the Berlin State Criminal Police Office (LKA) and Deputy Head of the processing and combating of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation to the detriment of minors, provided an insight into the German design of the investigation process and the approach to such cases. In his lecture, he used case studies to present German best practice models in the investigation process of human trafficking cases. Jordan and Germany face similar challenges in the combat against human trafficking. The biggest difference, however, lies in the approach to the investigation process, as the structure in Germany places an emphasis on cooperation between the police and the Public Prosecutor's Office, whereby the police have the power to initiate investigations if suspicion arises. In Jordan, however, the Code of Criminal Procedure does not stipulate an initiative in police investigations, as this is the responsibility of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The second day explored the structure and procedure in the investigation process in corruption and money laundering cases. Dr. Peter Schneiderhan, lawyer and retired Senior Public Prosecutor, gave an insight into the practices of a Public Prosecutor, and Dr. Thaer Nassar used ongoing case studies to address the current difficulties of criminal prosecution. This provoked some useful exchanges, as participants could report their experiences with similar challenges in a targeted manner.
The event will be followed by additional measures during the year, such as a trip to Berlin from a delegation and a further exchange of experiences to tie in with the issues and challenges within the framework of the training of trainers regarding the investigation process.
The IRZ would like to thank the experts and participants of the Jordanian Judicial Council for the efficient exchange of experiences and the successful cooperation, and is looking forward to further seminars.
Kick-off event in Amman on issues around the investment climate and the improvement of the legal framework with the Jordanian Ministry of Investment. Jordan
IRZ launched its cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Investment with an initial exchange of experiences on issues relating to the investment climate and the improvement of the legal framework on 10 May 2023 in Amman. The background to the cooperation is the Jordanian government’s aim to position the country as a stronger economy by 2030 and thus make it more attractive for foreign investors.
The Jordanian government has already taken the first steps to achieve this aim, as pointed out by Mr. Zaher Al-Qatarneh, Secretary General of the Jordanian Ministry of Investment in his opening speech. The measures include the formation of the Jordanian Ministry of Investment, which now bundles all the services relating to investments, and the new law regulating the legal framework for investments in Jordan, which came into force on 14 January 2023. Among others, this should create incentives and legal security for foreign investors and attract investments totalling 41 million Jordanian dinars into the country.
The IRZ expert, Dr. Christian Steiner, lawyer and managing partner of Ule & Steiner SLP gave an insight into the experiences in the Middle East and North Africa from a legal perspective. Many countries in the region have set themselves the goal of becoming more attractive to foreign investors. It is therefore essential to analyse how other countries position themselves and what incentives - such as attractive legal framework conditions, tax breaks, financial aid, exemptions from duty and free movement of services - are offered to foreign investors. However, Dr. Steiner emphasised that location factors also play a major role in investments. The national infrastructure, the stability of the political situation and security in general and legal certainty in particular are relevant aspects for investors.
Ms. Mays Khleifat, Head of the Directorate for Legal Affairs, rounded off the kick-off event with a presentation on various forms of capital investment in Jordan. She emphasised that while Jordan aims to attract more foreign investors, it also wants to encourage domestic investment. The Ministry of Investment would like to create targeted incentives for foreign investors to cooperate with domestic partners on certain projects. The new framework conditions protect the ownership rights of the Jordanian partner to counter any potential imbalance.
IRZ would like to thank Mays Khleifat, Dr. Christian Steiner and the participants for the committed and goal-oriented exchange and is looking forward to further cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Investment.
