Human Rights Watch (HRW) assessed Jordan’s 2014 reforms aiming to ease restrictions on children born to Jordanian mothers and foreign fathers as falling short of expectations in a report released on Tuesday.

The London based monitor grounded its evaluation on more than 50 interviews with Jordanian women, non-citizen children, government officials and activists, as well as a comprehensive review of the relevant Jordanian laws, regulations, and decisions.

HRW asserted that Jordan was operating contrary to international treaties to which it is a signatory and its own constitution by not granting children born to Jordanian women nationalities.

The Middle East director at HRW, Sarah Leah Whitson, said that “Announced reforms have failed to meaningfully improve their lives, proving that half-measures are no alternative to citizenship.”

The cabinet issued a decision in 2014 purporting to ease restrictions on their access to employment opportunities, public education, government health care, property ownership, investment, and acquiring a driver’s license. The cabinet decision also established a special identification card which would be required to access these six areas.

In 2014 the Interior Minister had stated that there were 355,923 children of Jordanian mothers and foreign fathers and by Feb. 2018 less than 20 percent had been issued the special IDs adding that they still faced difficulties in renewing residency and work permits.

HRW noted that among the justifications provided by Jordanian lawmakers and officials for the discriminatory policy include the alleged implication that Jordan could become an “alternative homeland” for Palestinians, pointing out that Jordanian men can marry up to four wives and pass on citizenship.

As recently as April 4, the Women’s Caucus of the Jordanian lower house of parliament met with Interior Minister Samir Mubaidin to discuss issues such as driver's’ license, banking procedures and work permits for children of Jordanian mothers.

When members of the caucus inquired about the decision to grant the Jordanian nationality to foreign investors, the minister explained that the measure was taken to raise funds and provide job opportunities.