5.4% of Jordanians over sixty
07-13-2016
According to the updated national strategy for senior citizens, the senior population in Jordan (60+ years) for the year 2015 has reached (518757) persons, 49.1% of which are females against 50.9% males, NCFA reported.
The strategy showed that the percentage of senior citizens in Jordan constituted (5.4%) of the population, whereas those over 65 were around (3.7%).
NCFA indicated that these figures show the importance of proper planning to be able to protect and care for this particular age group.
During a specialized workshop organized by NCFA and the Supreme Judge Department , Chief Islamic Justice Dr. Abdul Kareem Al-Khasawneh stressed the prominent status of the elderly and children in Islam which cares for their affairs and their psychological, social, health and physical needs, noting that the Sharia Judiciary works to protect the rights of this pivotal group in society, which goes in line with HM King Abdullah's directives in ensuring the rights and best interests of this group.
The workshop titled "Elderly protection and care: Legislative framework and practical application" was attended by members of the national follow-up team on the implementation of the national strategy for senior citizens, and discussed Article (197) of the Personal Status Law and its general provisions pertaining to obligating adult children to maintain their parents. During the workshop, several specialized Sharia judges presented working papers on several themes including: parental maintenance in Islamic jurisprudence and in law, the situations and terms under which maintenance in enforced on their adult children, and when and how parental maintenance is mandatory. The workshop also included a discussion on the role of family conciliation which the department undertakes to protect and care for the elderly in addition to the role of prosecutorial authorities in the protection and care of their rights.
On his part, NCFA Secretary-General Fadel Al-Hmoud reaffirmed NCFA's deep interest in elderly issues guided by HM Queen Rania's directives, noting that during last year it had worked to update the National Strategy for Senior Citizens and its executive action plan for the years (2018-2022) which was the fruit of jointed efforts with the national follow-up committee on the implementation of the strategy established in 2012 by a prime ministry decision.
Al-Hmoud added that a key pillar of the strategy is the enactment of legislation that ensure senior citizens' rights, which is inspired by divine teachings and social norms and culture that call for respect and provision of best of care for this age group. The workshop as Al-Hmoud stressed complements NCFA's work in this regard, noting that it throws light on Article (197) which is quite unfamiliar to many
