His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday urged every effort possible to guarantee respect for and protection of human rights in Jordan and to safeguard the rule of the law.

During a meeting with Adnan Badran, the president of the National Centre for Human Rights board of trustees, King Abdullah commended the centre's contributions to safeguarding human rights in Jordan and urged more strides towards justice, reform and transparency.

Emphasising his support for the centre, King Abdullah also stressed the importance of uniting all efforts to continue the country's reform and comprehensive development.

During the meeting, Badran presented a copy of the NCHR's seventh annual report and briefed the King on its main criteria and recommendations.

Badran said the centre's recommendations include a set of state-led actions, including the development of correctional and rehabilitation facilities, establishing a special court to look into press and publications issues and amending the Labour Law to better serve and protect labourers.

The report also calls for increasing the number of seats designated for women representatives in Parliament and a national strategy for the elderly, Badran noted.

The NCHR's report includes recommendations and suggestions on the Elections Law, in addition to alleged government violations of international conventions and agreements pertaining to political, economic, cultural and civil freedoms.

It criticises the temporary Elections Law and calls for a new law that adopts a mixed electoral system, under which citizens can vote for a candidate in the constituency and a second vote for a proportional list at the governorate level.

According to the 143-page report, the centre received 85 complaints in 2010 against police centres compared with 51 in 2009, while the number of administrative detainees last year dropped to 12,345 compared with 16,050 in 2009 and 14,046 in 2008.

With regards to the right to medical insurance, the report said around 12 per cent of Jordanians do not have medical insurance, one of the lowest rates in the world.

In a statement to Jordan Television after the meeting, Badran said the Kingdom has gone a long way in establishing economic and social rights for its citizens.