Amman, Sept 14 (Petra) – HH Prince Mired bin Raad, Chief Chamberlain and President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), and Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abul Samen on Sunday discussed mechanisms to implement the national plan to bring public buildings and facilities in line with accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.

Prince Mired stressed the importance of advancing disability rights and moving forward with the plan on clear timelines to ensure tangible results. He underlined that enabling access to public buildings is a constitutional and legal right, calling for greater coordination among government bodies and embedding universal design principles in planning and construction sectors to create inclusive and safe urban environments for all.

Abul Samen reaffirmed the ministry’s full commitment to implementing the plan, noting that ensuring inclusive and safe infrastructure is a government priority, in line with royal directives, national legislation, and international conventions on disability rights.

He said the ministry is working with stakeholders, particularly the HCD, to apply accessibility standards in public buildings, especially those providing direct services to citizens. The ministry’s annual plan includes upgrading its directorates and offices across the governorates to meet accessibility requirements, with a budget allocation of JD150,000.

All new designs prepared by the ministry or in cooperation with consulting firms will incorporate accessibility standards, Abul Samen added, while existing buildings will be upgraded gradually under a comprehensive execution plan that sets priorities, allocates funds, and ensures compliance with specifications.

The minister said the ministry will also coordinate with the Jordan Engineers Association and the Offices and Engineering Companies Authority to enforce compliance with disability building codes, making it a condition for project approval and licensing.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides, who outlined current efforts in reviewing designs, updating national building codes, and embedding inclusive design standards in technical regulations.

Both parties agreed to establish a joint technical committee to monitor implementation of the national plan, set urgent intervention priorities, and prepare regular progress reports with recommendations.

//Petra// AF