Committee on the Rights of the Child Ninety-third session

8–26 May 2023

Consideration of reports of States parties

Replies of Jordan to the list of issues in relation to its sixth periodic report *

[Date received: 14 February 2023]

Reply to the list of issues in relation to the sixth periodic report of Jordan on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 2023 (CRC/C/JOR/Q/6)

I.Response to Part I, paragraph 2, of the list of issues (query 2)

A.Response to paragraph 2 (a) of the list of issues

1.The Children’s Rights Act in Jordan was adopted and went into force on 12 January 2023. The National Council for Family Affairs has begun working on formulating a draft proposal that includes a mechanism for implementing the provisions of the Law in an integrated manner. A national working committee has been formed made up of the ministries and agencies involved in implementing the Law. Specialized meetings and workshops have been held and regulations and directives that need to be issued have been identified. The Council started disseminating videos to the public about provisions and services related to the Act from the moment it was published in the Official Gazette, and that work is ongoing. In accordance with article 30 of the Act, the Council will develop the necessary indicators and standards for follow-up reports on implementation.

B.Response to paragraph 2 (b) of the list of issues

2.The National Council for Family Affairs has broad powers for coordination with agencies under article 6 (p) of the act establishing it (No. 27 of 2001). Also in accordance with that act, the Council issued the regulation for the National Family Protection Team (No. 33 of 2016). The Council is charged with facilitating the tasks of the team, reviewing legislation and providing a system for following up cases of violence. The Council is responsible for monitoring and following up compliance of governmental and non-governmental agencies and national institutions. The team meets every month chaired by the Council at its headquarters. It is made up of representatives of over 30 governmental and non-governmental agencies, including nine civil society organizations. The team’s authorities include following up on the Convention, the Protocols and anything else relating to children.

3.In accordance with article 30 of the Children’s Rights Act (No. 17 of 2022), the National Council for Family Affairs prepares a periodic follow-up report on achievements and needs, which is submitted to the Jordanian government. The Cabinet has instructed the Council to follow up on the Nation Plan to Curb Marriage of Persons under 18 (2020–2024). The Cabinet has also approved the National Strategy to Curb Child Labour and its implementation plan, which charges the National Council for Family Affairs with monitoring and assessing the strategy, in line with Goals 16 and 17.

4.The National Council for Family Affairs exercises follow-up and coordination functions by chairing the following national committees:

The higher steering committee for juvenile justice.This committee is made up of representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions concerned with juvenile justice and follow-up of juvenile cases. The committee is working to approve a juvenile justice implementation plan for the years 2021–2024 and update the national strategy for juvenile justice through meetings and workshops on priority programmes and projects.

The committee for early childhood development.A working group for early childhood development was formed in 2018, made up of representatives of some 30 governmental, non-governmental and international institutions and bodies concerned with early childhood. Its objective is to network and consolidate efforts under current and future plans and programmes in the early childhood sector. Over the past three years, the committee has worked to develop and update parental awareness guides and programmes in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the light of recent scientific studies and research and national and international experiences in this field. The new guides cover the life cycle of the child from birth through 18 years of age. They follow a proactive skills-based approach that emphasizes the strengths and abilities of the parents. The programme is underpinned by evolutionary approach that responds to particular outcomes for both child and caregiver.

The national early childhood development team has also issued a manual of safety and preventive health working procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in kindergartens. The manual is intended for kindergarten staff, including caregivers and other workers, as well as the children’s guardians. The guide covers the most important procedures to be followed in taking care of children, including cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and prerequisites for opening facilities. It also details mechanisms for quarantining children who might be sick, social distancing and preventive measures for caregivers that meet the international standards issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Jordanian Ministry of Health.

The national committee to curb child marriage. This is covered in the response to query 6.

The national committee to curb child labour. Its makeup and functions are included in the response to that query.

C.Response to paragraph 2 (c) of the list of issues

5.Budget allocations for children. The State budget is issued by an act and published on the website of the General Budget Office. By reviewing budget acts for the relevant years, budget allocations for children can be determined for each agency according to requests for allocations from the General Budget Office for the budget allocations for children, including direct and indirect allocations.

(In dinars)
Quarter	(3)	(2)
Number	Designation	2019	2020	2021
Total expenditures for children/ G eneral Budget Act	1 303 884 474	1 355 820 045	1 412 717 080

D.Response to paragraph 2 (d) of the list of issues

6.The Children’s Rights Law takes care to grant and guarantee freedom of expression for every child, as provided for in article 7 of the Law. We refer you to the experience of the youth team and the experience of the student parliament and student councils implemented in schools. Children have been trained to exercise their electoral rights in the home for education and rehabilitation for juveniles, and work is ongoing to extend that electoral experiment to include all social care homes. There is also a children’s parliament at the Ministry of Culture, a children’s municipal council affiliated with the municipality of Amman, and student parliaments in schools.

7.Civil society organizations provide services that empower children. The Khatwatuna Association provides services for persons with disabilities, psychological support services, and other needs. Both the Justice Centre for Legal Aid and the Mizan Centre provide legal aid services. The Sanabel Al Khair Association provides services and programmes that cover juvenile delinquents, as do the Save the Children, Questscope and Pioneers of Goodness. According to the official registry of associations in Jordan affiliated with the Ministry of Social Development, there are 6,698 associations in Jordan.

8.The Administrative Court is competent to hear appeals of decisions to refuse to grant a licence. Decisions to withdraw a license or ban an association from operating are only issued by the Ministry in cases where the conditions of the licence are violated. That is to regulate services, allocations and community work. The National Centre for Human Rights has a mechanism for monitoring complaints and following up with the authorities to correct administrative decisions in the event of any complaints regarding licence requests or anything relating to children. Some 21 complaints were lodged in 2020, and they have been followed up. In accordance with its statute, the Centre also publicizes awareness programmes on the children’s rights provided for in the Convention for students in public, private and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools.

E.Response to paragraph 2 (e) of the list of issues

9.Measures taken to ensure compliance with Labour Code conditions for all sectors include visits by inspectors from the Ministries of Labour, Health and the Environment; joint inspection campaigns with Public Security; verification of compliance with workplace health conditions; and uncovering cases of child labour in all sectors by Ministry of Labour inspectors. Quarterly inspection campaigns are conducted for the sectors that employ children the most. Labour inspectors are trained annually. The Ministry held 50 awareness-raising activities in 2021 and 51 in 2022 targeting employers, children and their families. It formed a national team by decision of the Prime Minister headed by the Ministry of Labour and composed of several ministries, civil society institutions, international organizations, representatives of chambers of industry and commerce, and the Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions to prepare a National Strategy to Curb Child Labour for 2022–2030 and an implementing plan for 2022, which was approved by the Office of the Prime Minister. Four anti-child labour inspection campaigns were carried out during 2022. They targeted the sectors that employ children the most, including wholesale, retail, vehicle repair, coffee shops and the agricultural sector.

10.A regulation to protect juvenile workers has been drafted in implementation of the provisions of article 33 of the Juveniles Act (No. 32 of 2014). It is intended to protect working children under 16 regardless of the work they do, and children between 16 and 18 who are put to work in violation of the provisions of the Labour Act. The regulation covers children who engage in begging – even if it is concealed – in any way, the worst forms of child labour, and exploitation covered by the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act in force. The regulation clarifies mechanisms and jurisdictions for handling cases in accordance with an approved national framework. It clarifies the functions and membership of the steering committee for implementation of the national framework and the coordinating committee for follow-up of the national strategy.

11.In 2021, the Coordinating Committee to Curb Child Labour was formed. It engages in networking and coordination between the operational agencies, annual monitoring of relevant programmes and projects, and generating support for the cause. Its members include government agencies, civil society institutions and international institutions. The national framework for curbing cases of child labour and begging has been updated and approved by the Prime Minister’s Office, as has the internal procedures manual for such cases and the internal operating procedures of the Ministry of Social Development and the Family and Juvenile Protection Department. All the agencies involved in implementation have been provided with training. A social support and case management centre for working children will be established in the Juvenile Education and Rehabilitation Home in Amman/North Amman and in the Juvenile Education Home in Irbid, which are affiliated with the Ministry of Social Development.

12.The Ministry of Labour has developed an occupational safety and health manual for child labour that sets forth scientifically and clearly the most important occupational safety and health indicators in places where children work. Labour inspectors have been trained.

13.An agricultural workers regulation (No. 19 of 2021) has been issued to regulate the relationship between workers and employers in this sector to ensure compliance with national and international standards and national legislation. Instructions have been issued for inspection procedures for agricultural activities (No. 19 of 2021). Inspection visits to the agricultural sector for the current year were conducted as follows:

Item/Year	2020	2021	2022
Number of inspection visits in the agricultural sector	1 703	1 841	1 188
Number of child labour visits in the agricultural sector	119	13	803
Number of violations by employers	8	2	3

14.The Jordanian Ministry of Environment works in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act (No. 6 of 2017) in partnership with the relevant agencies to follow up compliance of the industrial sector with environmental conditions. It oversees water sources, parks for families and children and the disposal of emissions and waste harmful to public health. Tourism establishments are subject to joint action by Public Security, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Labour to prevent child labour. This was covered in the sixth report under Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

15.Facilities are subject to inspection by the Ministry of Health to monitor activities involving chemical substances. Working conditions are monitored in places where there is dust. Preventive medical screening is done when work starts and then annually for certain professions involving food production and in facilities that are required to have a physician in residence. This is applicable to general working conditions and regular working conditions. Where there is a case of child labour, that is subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Labour. At the governorate level, there is a public safety commission that includes the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior and Public Security to administer environmental protection. It oversees working conditions and occupational safety requirements under national legislation. The Ministry of Labour has developed an occupational safety and health manual for child labour that sets forth scientifically and clearly the most important occupational safety and health indicators in places where children work. Labour inspectors have been trained.

Tourism facilities are subject to inspections and monitoring of workers. They are subject to labour rules that are followed up. ِAn activity has been added to the governance, alliances and partnerships component of the draft of the National Strategy to Curb Child Labour for 2022–2030 and the 2022 implementing plan that includes strengthening and coordinating efforts with tourism sector institutions to curb child labour and ensure compliance by companies in that sector with their obligations. A joint visit was made by the relevant government agencies and initiatives related to child labourers in the tourism sector and those who work independently. They are offered protection and case management services. The Prevention of Human Trafficking Act criminalizes the exploitation of children and imposes severe penalties. In cases where such exploitation is proven, the victim is rehabilitated with a series of support and care services. Article 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Public Prosecutor is applied, whereby the Public Prosecutor is considered to be the child’s guardian.

The Ministry of Tourism has exercised its competence to form a joint awareness, guidance and oversight committee for tourism facilities in partnership with multiple agencies. It sets forth the classification and oversight of facilities, prepares guides for facilities, and conducts ongoing and thorough inspections of facilities classified as tourist. In the first half of 2021, the committee conducted 850 inspections related to anti-coronavirus (COVID-19) measures. Some 92 facilities received warnings of violations involving social distancing and health measures. No violations related to the employment and exploitation of children were observed.

16.The Ministry of Labour has developed model internal bylaws for the private sector that include special provisions to regulate the employment of juveniles in conditions that resemble those of vocational training. Bylaws have been adopted by 315 private-sector companies with the approval of the Minister of Labour.

II.Response to Part I, paragraph 3, of the list of issues (query 3)

A.Response to paragraph 3 (a) of the list of issues

17.Jordanian legislation does not discriminate between children by category or needs. Identity documents and national ID numbers are provided to these children. They are housed in the Ministry of Development’s care homes or provided with foster care without discrimination. Support services and health insurance are provided through the Ministry of Social Development through an arrangement with the Ministry of Health. There is no social discrimination whatsoever when it comes to drafting a national strategy. There are numerous plans and strategies – to be covered below under subitem (b) – that make up a general framework to realize non-discrimination against any category of child.

18.The Children’s Rights Act provides for a child’s right to identity documents, a national ID number and a name without abuse or violation of customary norms. Where the situation referred to by the Committee’s term “illegitimate” does occur in articles 20, 21, 32 and 34 of the Code of Civil Status, rights and privileges are guaranteed to the child.

19.On 28 December 2022, the National Centre for Human Rights held a participatory workshop aimed at reviewing Jordanian legislation. A recommendation was made to review any provisions that discriminate against children, especially in the Civil Status Code, and to amend such provisions to bring them into line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the recently issued Children’s Rights Act. A committee will be formed for this purpose with a view to harmonizing legislation with international conventions.

The Family and Juvenile Protection Department treats everyone with solely their best interests in mind. It provides comprehensive services on the basis of a needs-based approach to case management.

B.Response to paragraph 3 (b) of the list of issues

20.There are no manifestations of discrimination against children in Jordan. Services are provided to all categories of children without discrimination according to their needs and in accordance with plans and mechanisms, one of which is the implementation plan for the national priorities matrix for strengthening the system for protection against gender-based and domestic violence and protection of children for the years 2021–2023.

An implementation plan for the national priorities matrix has been prepared to strengthen the system for protection against gender-based and domestic violence and protection of children for the years 2021–2023, and to provide greater access to multiple sectors. It was adopted by the Cabinet and circulated to institutions for inclusion in their annual plans and priorities for the coming years. The plan covers the following sectors: social services, justice and police services, health services, coordination and partnership, and awareness. There are specialized components for each sector, including on human resources, capacity building, services and logistical and technical support. The plan also includes anticipated time frames for each activity, with performance indicators tailored to each activity to ensure implementation and follow-up carried out jointly by all parties, who are identified as either primary stakeholders or supporting parties. The objective is to improve the level and readiness of each sector to respond to and prevent cases of violence. Reports have been prepared to monitor achievements and challenges to the implementation of the activities in the plan as of 2022. An assessment will be prepared on the extent of compliance with the implementation of the plan through 2023.

21.The Global Initiative to End All Forms of Violence against Children

In partnership with UNICEF, a national plan to end all forms of violence against children for 2024–2029 will be drafted. That is in fulfilment of one of the commitments made by Jordan when it joined the Global Initiative to End All Forms of Violence against Children. It will use reports monitoring achievements and challenges and the assessment of the extent of compliance with the implementation plan for the national priorities matrix for strengthening the system for protection against gender-based and domestic violence and protection of children for the years 2021–2023 as the cornerstone for drafting a national plan to end all forms of violence against children for 2024–2029.

22.The Family and Juvenile Protection Department deals with all forms of violence against all categories of children within the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan without regard to the nationality or sex of the child, within the national framework for the protection of the family from violence and the national strategy for juvenile justice.

C.Response to paragraph 3 (c) of the list of issues

23.Jordanian legislation does not discriminate in any way against girls. The Children’s Rights Act provides for services without discrimination between categories of children. The Children’s Rights Act defines a child as “anyone under the age of 18 without discrimination between male and female”.

24.Juveniles of both sexes are treated by the Family and Juvenile Protection Department according to the same standards without discrimination. The rules and regulations in force in the Family and Juvenile Protection Department do not discriminate between male and female.

III.Response to Part I, paragraph 4, of the list of issues (query 4)

A.Response to paragraph 4 (a) of the list of issues

25.It should be noted that a distinction must be drawn between withdrawal of national ID numbers that were assigned illegally and withdrawal of nationality. The withdrawal of national numbers handed out illegally to those who do not enjoy Jordanian nationality (by virtue of the provisions of the law or through a naturalization certificate) is a corrective procedure to bring documents and data into line with official records. The category of Palestinian refugee mentioned in paragraph 4 (a) of the list of issues includes persons granted naturalization certificates. There are two ways that naturalization certificate can be rescinded: if a court judgment is issued regarding a hostile act towards the State on behalf of a hostile State or a threat to the State’s national security; or it is proven that the particulars provided by the person when they were naturalized were fraudulent. In those two cases, the nationality with respect to which the withdrawal procedure is conducted was granted originally by a Cabinet decision along with a naturalization certificate. It may be rescinded by a Cabinet decision, which is subject to administrative appeal at two levels. We note that no national ID numbers have been withdrawn since 2011. Moreover, the Cabinet has formed a ministerial and security committee to review, monitor and receive grievances in this regard as a stage prior to the stage of oversight by the administrative courts.

26.In line with the preceding paragraph, children of Palestinian refugees are subject to the same residence procedures granted to children of Palestinian refugees who do not have Jordanian nationality residing in the Kingdom, equally and without discrimination.

B.Response to paragraph 4 (b) of the list of issues

27.Children of known parentage born out of wedlock to a Jordanian father enjoy the same rights as Jordanian children born in wedlock once parentage is proven in a sharia court and the birth is documented, without any violation of privacy or discrimination. They receive the same birth certificate and identity card that is granted to children born in wedlock.

28.Children of known parentage born out of wedlock to a non-Jordanian father, once the birth is documented by decision of a sharia court, are subject to the same conditions of residence as those applied to children born in wedlock, without discrimination.

IV.Response to Part I, paragraph 2, of the list of issues (query 5)

A.Response to paragraph 5 (a) of the list of issues

29.Jordanian law punishes all acts of violence against children, even when committed by parents. Article 62 differentiates between different types of discipline and violence. That is reinforced by a provision in the Children’s Rights Act (No. 17 of 2022) issued in 2023, taking into account the right of parents or their proxies to supervise and educate in accordance with legislation in force. A child has the right to protection from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or assault against his physical, psychological or sexual integrity, and against detention, and the competent authorities must take necessary preventive measures in that connection.

30.Article 62 must be read in conjunction with other legal provisions. Article 333 of the same Code provides that where a forensic report is available, a case may be considered for public prosecution for a criminal penalty against the guardian of an abused child.

B.Response to paragraph 5 (b) of the list of issues

31.Children who are victims of sexual exploitation and abuse are treated confidentially. The Juveniles Act, article 14, provides for the confidentiality of procedures conducted by the Juvenile Police. Article 17 provides for confidentiality during investigation and trial, as does the Protection from Domestic Violence Act, article 18.

32.Staff and service providers receive continuous training on confidentiality of procedures and services involving children.

33.The national framework for protection against domestic violence and the guidelines for approaches to case management provide for special interview rooms to be set aside for complete privacy. There are rooms with television links to hear testimony from children and victims. A specialist is assigned to each case as case coordinator without any other specialists knowing the details of the case. The Children’s Rights Act provides for legal assistance for children in article 24 on expanding the umbrella of legal aid for children. The Ministry of Justice runs a restorative juvenile justice project for the purpose of publicizing the principles of restorative justice to ensure a safe environment for children. The Code of Criminal Procedure, article 208, provides for legal assistance to juvenile offenders based on specific criteria.

C.Response to paragraph 5 (c) of the list of issues

34.The Code of Criminal Procedure, article 74 provides that testimony of children under 15 should be taken as presumptive and not under legal oath. They are also eligible for legal assistance under the Code, the Children’s Rights Act, and the legal regulation issued for this purpose, including awareness and support.

35.In 2019, the National Council for Family Affairs prepared a manual on the best interests of the child for the regular courts and another for the sharia courts. They are in line with provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Training on this guide was held at the Kingdom-wide level. Emphasis was placed on taking into account the social and psychological needs of a child before the courts. The training included sharia lawyers, regular and sharia court judges, and workers from the Ministry of Social Development. There were some 150 participants.

36.A modern technical guide for hearing child witnesses and victims has been drafted in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Staff have received training at the Kingdom-wide level on technology. There has been social and psychological training on rehabilitating child victims and witnesses to hear testimony in order to achieve justice. Rooms and devices have been provided to the Prosecutor of the High Criminal Court and the Amman Police Unit for the Protection of the Family and Juveniles to ensure that they can give their testimony freely without being subject to any pressure or consequences.

V.Response to Part I, paragraph 6, of the list of issues (query 6)

37.Work is being done to follow up the National Plan to Curb Marriage of Persons under 18 (2020–2024). A national committee made up of national governmental and non-governmental institutions and a number of international institutions has been formed to monitor achievements related to the plan. A national committee has also been formed to curb marriage of persons under 18 years of age. It is affiliated with the National Family Protection Team.

38.A specialized technical committee was formed in the Office of the Chief Justice to study cases of early marriage and take decisions that realize the best interest of all concerned. Based on its recommendations, an electronic data matrix was built for studying cases that were subject to the exception for those under 18 to obtain approval (granting of marriage licence). The Office of the Chief Justice has finished building the Edraak Platform for the marriage of persons under 18, which is for courses and workshops on the marriage of persons under 18. Several seminars and courses that will be held on the platform have begun to be designed. Specialized training has been held for sharia judges and staff of reform, mediation and counselling offices. A training course was held on exceptions.

VI.Response to Part I, paragraph 7, of the list of issues (query 7)

A.Response to paragraph 7 (a) of the list of issues

39.Jordan has made progress in supporting the sharing of parental responsibility between parents. The most notable step has been amendment of article 72 of the Labour Law in 2019. The wording previously provided for childcare where there were 20 married women employees. Now it is where there are 15 or more employees with children under five.

40.Article 172 of the Code of Sharia Procedure (No. 31 of 1959) provides that the Office of the Sharia Prosecutor shall have the competence to bring cases not brought by the parties involved. Paragraph 5 (a) requires minors to be placed in custody – of the prosecutor when necessary – when it is feared that there is a danger to the child.

41.Since 2019, the following guidelines have been issued to regulate and license childcare facilities:

1.2021 guidelines for workplace childcare alternatives

2.2021 guidelines for licensing home childcare facilities

3.2019 guidelines for licensing childcare facilities and amendments thereto

42.A circular was issued by the Prime Minister to government agencies to provide childcare facilities for workers just as in the private sector and according to the provisions of legislation. That was followed in 2022 by a letter from the Minister of Social Development to all agencies to implement the content of the circular, including the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, as part of follow-up with the ministries.

43.According to electronic licensing for the year 2022, 481 school childcare facilities were licensed, as well as childcare facilities in 12 out of 35 government hospitals.

44.In 2019, the Social Security Corporation’s maternity fund allocated 25 per cent to support childcare facilities, from which both parents benefit in sharing responsibility for their children.

45.The Social Security Fund took measures to provide financial support to families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide for their living requirements as part of social security measures under the Hemaya programme.

46.Article 5 of the Children’s Rights Act provides that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing, instruction, guidance, care, development and provision of necessary care to the child. Article 9 of that Act provides that a child has the right to nurture, nursing, maintenance and contact with his parents in accordance with legislation in force. The Juvenile Act promotes equality between parents in the right to remand their juvenile child as a rehabilitation measure in accordance with articles 22 and 24 in line with the interest of the juvenile.

47.The Income Tax Law has strengthened equality between men and women with recent amendments on the upbringing of children and the sharing of responsibilities between both parents. A paragraph (e) has been added to article 9, as follows: “A taxpayer shall have the right to the exemption for dependents provided for in paragraph (a) of this article; in the event more than one taxpayer applies for this exemption, it shall be shared according to the dependency ratio... Otherwise, it shall be shared equally among breadwinners”.

B.Response to paragraph 7 (b) of the list of issues

48.The Ministry of Social Development is working on family integration programmes for children in cases of neglect and for those who lack family support, to integrate them into families. It has worked to gradually increase that practice in recent years in place of shelters.

Statistics of the Ministry of Social Development on adoption since 1965 and integration since 2012 through 30 December 2022

Number of children	Total
Withdrawn due to establishment of parentage and other reasons	56
Handed over for integration	480
Cumulative foster families/adoption	1 225
Actual cumulative handed over for integration – withdrawn	424
Cumulative foster families/adoption	1 702
Unaccompanied by family whose situations have been formalized (by court decision, guardianship or sponsorship)	196

49.Children reintegrated either into their families or into foster families, as shown in the table below:

Year	Integration with biological families	Integration with foster families
2018	201	36
2019	237	80
2020	168	64
2021	172	49

This is done through a joint committee to study applications and train workers A child is separated from his family based on the following:

1.A danger is posed to the child by his family.

2.It is in the best interest of the child in cases where there is no one to care for him from his family because one or both of the parents is incarcerated, or the parents are not fit to care for the child.

3.The mother abandons the child.

100 employees at the Ministry of Development have been trained on standard national operating procedures. 120 have been trained on case management methodology. When a child is taken in, preliminary procedures prior to placement with a foster family are as follows:

1.A social study is conducted with a view to providing basic services in accordance with the international agreement.

2.The child is kept in a care institution.

3.Services are provided to the child in accordance with case management methodology based on priorities and assessment.

50.Tasks and procedures of the foster families programme:

Spreading awareness of the programme and finding foster families

Family eligibility screenings, psychosocial evaluations and obtaining consent

Initial eligibility screening of the child and psychosocial assessment

Observation of the child and preparation of the family and the child

Remand of child to the juvenile court

Issuance of health insurance card for the child

Psychological and social interventions

Follow-up reports for the court and the Ministry and procedures for extending the ruling

Contacts with civil status and the court

Handling emergencies with foster families

Disbursal of financial allocations for foster families

Quality assurance

Concluding agreements with partner associations to implement the programme

Facilitating procedures for the travel and transportation of children participating in the programme to other countries accompanied by their foster family

C.Response to paragraph 7 (c) of the list of issues

51.To prevent the separation of a child on any grounds, especially in the case of the incarceration of the parents, article 27, paragraph 3, of the Penal Code provides as follows: “If the two were sentenced to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years and were married prior to commission of the offence, the court may, at their request and witا cause, order the sentences to be served consecutively” to ensure that one of the parents is available to see to the child’s upbringing.

52.The Government has also allocated more than 60 million dinars annually to support families and children as part of poverty reduction in line with Goals 1 and 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

D.Response to paragraph 7 (d) of the list of issues

53.Training of workers is covered in the response to query 19. We note that article 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that “if the interest of the person lacking capacity conflicts with that of their representative, the Public Prosecutor shall act as guardian”.

VII.Response to Part I, paragraph 8, of the list of issues (query 8)

A.Response to paragraph 8 (a) of the list of issues

54.Work is underway to replace the services provided by shelters for persons with disabilities with alternative accommodation in day centres. Work is underway to amend the 2019 guidelines for licensing early intervention centres for children with disabilities to bring them into line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to place children who have lost their family support with foster families, and to train the families how to handle children with disabilities.

A national strategy has been launched to create alternatives to government shelters for persons with disabilities. It aims to create a better reality for persons with disabilities by ending the shelter system in Jordan and turning it into a day-care system that serves the best interests of each person with disabilities. Follow-up of this strategy includes but is not limited to the following:

In 2020, an agreement was signed between the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Ministry of Social Development to develop a special electronic programme for a database of persons with disabilities enrolled in shelters and to provide financial support to the Ministry by the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Tools are being developed for assessment, arbitration and final approval of persons housed in shelters and their families and persons on waiting lists in order to identify alternatives and inclusive services for persons housed in shelters.

55.The Ministry of Education has launched the 10-Year Strategy for Inclusive Education (2019–2029) and developed an implementation plan for the first three years of the strategy. The strategy aims to bring the percentage of school-age children with disabilities enrolled in regular schools to 10 per cent and provide all the requisites for inclusive education.

The strategy is made up of components on the following: policies and legislation; awareness, information and lobbying; identification, diagnosis, and support and referral programmes; accessibility and reasonable accommodation; educational programmes for learning and teaching; human resources and capacity building; pre-school (nurseries and kindergartens); children not enrolled in regular schools; and research, scientific studies and databases to help offer and implement inclusive education.

56.In the years since the launch of the strategy, the strategic plan has been implemented and followed up as follows:

A general framework and national policies have been developed for a plan for early intervention programmes in Jordan.

A procedural plan for early intervention programmes has been developed based on the actual outcomes of integrating children with disabilities into kindergartens in the Kingdom.

Criteria have been set forth for the selection of target schools for implementing inclusive education programmes within selected education directorates.

57.The National Plan for the Renovation of Existing Buildings and Public Facilities (2019–2029) has been launched. It aims to outfit at least 60 per cent of facilities and buildings that provide services to the public by 2029 based on the Code of Building Requirements for the Disabled and/or find suitable alternatives as needed.

58.The strategy includes components related to legislation and public policies; media, awareness-raising and lobbying; polling stations (preparing 300 centres); technical capacity-building; model areas (the Abdali district, Yarmouk University Street, Aqaba Marine Park, the tourist street in Petra); outfitting of public buildings and facilities (public facilities, public service buildings, tourism and archaeological buildings and sites, transportation, houses of worship); and providing a database of existing governmental and non-governmental buildings and facilities.

59.During the year 2021, training was conducted through the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as follows:

25 staff at the Ministry of Social Development have been trained on the electronic system for shelters and the data-entry mechanism at the Karak and Amal centres.

National systems for social protection and capacity-building are being developed for the early intervention component at the Al Hussein Social Foundation, the Al-Koura Comprehensive Special Education Centre, and the Wasatiyah Centre.

24 directors of inclusive day centres (from the three regions) have received training on early intervention and rehabilitation.

24 workers in inclusive day centres in the central region have received training on autism spectrum disorder.

24 workers in inclusive day centres in the central region have received training on early intervention.

Through the Empowerment and Community Rehabilitation Project, in partnership with the National Association for Community Rehabilitation, which covers the southern Jordan Valley areas of Ghawr al-Hadithah, Ghawr al-Mazra‘ah, Ghawr al-Safi, Ghawr al-Assal, Ghawr al-Dhira‘, Ma’murah, al-Ghuwaybah and Naqa‘, the following has been done:

A physiotherapy unit has been operationalized at the Association with support for the purchase of physiotherapy services and a team of volunteers from the region. Some 51 beneficiaries have received 984 sessions physical therapy services – 17 males and 34 females.

A speech therapy unit has been operationalized in the association through support for the purchase of speech therapy services and a team of volunteers from the region. Some 82 beneficiaries have received 945 sessions – 40 males and 42 females.

B.Response to paragraph 8 (b) of the list of issues

60.In 2019, the Ministry of Social Development held four training workshops targeting male and female workers in shelters and their supervisors in the technical directorates, and male and female workers in day centres. The workshops raised awareness of the national strategy for alternatives to shelters and independent living. In addition, capacity-building was provided in a course on the role of community rehabilitation programmes in strengthening the independent living system. In 2020, capacity-building in the area of shelter alternatives and living programmes was provided to workers in government shelters through three independent training programmes that involved 69 participants. In 2022, capacity-building in early intervention was provided to workers in day centres affiliated with the Ministry of Social Development. Some 50 trainees were trained, in addition to members of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities who are on the committees involved in licensing and inspection of early intervention centres and the committees involved in drafting early intervention guidelines.

61.The Ministry of Social Development has adopted early intervention programmes. It has coordinated with supporting international organizations to create early intervention services and programmes in its inclusive day centres. Such programmes are of the utmost importance in supporting persons under the age of six because the most important formative experiences occur during this period.

62.The Ministry of Health is working to review the status of all types of health facilities and services, including mother and children’s centres. It is anticipated that after this review, conditions at these facilities and the services they offer will be reformed in line with the standards of the Code of Building Requirements for the Disabled and the requirements for implementing the new draft code as soon as it is approved.

63.The following falls within the competence of the Ministry of Health:

A national track for screening and early detection of cerebral palsy and a national track for screening and early detection of sciatic dislocation have been drafted and are being circulated within and between ministries. They have been adopted and posted in diagnostic centres, health centres and hospitals, and staff have been trained on them.

A track for the early detection of disability has been drafted and is being circulated within and between ministries. It has been adopted and posted in diagnostic centres, health centres and hospitals, and staff have been trained on them.

Diagnostic protocols to identify intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder have been drafted in conjunction with the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Accreditation Council. They have been adopted and posted in diagnostic centres, health centres and hospitals, and staff have been trained on them.

Standards for diagnosing learning impediments have been adopted and health personnel have been trained on them.

VIII.Response to Part I, paragraph 9, of the list of issues (query 9)

A.Response to paragraphs 9 (a) and (b) of the list of issues

64.Education services for the primary stage are provided free of charge without discrimination between categories of children and without regard to nationality.

65.Health services are provided to all categories of children. That includes early detection services for developmental delays free of charge to all refugee children under five with refugee documents through women’s and children’s health centres. If a child is not registered, they may use public medical clinics in accordance with the fee schedule for uninsured Jordanians.

66.Under the Jordanian national vaccination programme, vaccination services are provided free of charge to all children in the Kingdom regardless of status or nationality.

67.The National Reproductive and Sexual Health Strategy for the Years 2020–2030 has been launched. Awareness courses have been held on the risks of pregnancy at an early age. Awareness-raising has included encouraging sharia judges to take that into account in cases of marriage applications for the 16–18 age group.

68.The Ministry of Health works to provide psychologists and psychiatric services on Jordanian territory for children. Those services cover refugees. Jordanian law only permits abortion in cases of danger to the health of the mother. When a child is born in the alternative care programme and placed in a foster family, it is treated under conditions that ensure that its needs are provided for, and that it has access to suitable support and identification documents.

69.Health personnel receive training on the manual for adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

70.Awareness sessions on adolescent sexual and reproductive health are provided to parents to help them deal with this stage.

71.The Children’s Rights Act provides for primary health care for all categories of children on Jordanian soil in accordance with a timetable.

72.Health services are provided in all of the Ministry’s health centres and hospitals to duly registered refugees. They are treated the same as competent Jordanians when it comes to financial claims. Family planning means are provided free of charge to refugees residing legally in the Kingdom.

With regard to adolescent mental health:

A.There are 52 psychiatric clinics distributed among the Ministry’s hospitals and centres in all the Kingdom’s governorates. All clinics have a psychologist, behavioural therapist and nurse, and a pharmacy stocked with the necessary medicines.

B.All family protection and public security departments have a psychiatrist to assess the mental health of victims.

C.Work is being done to integrate mental health into primary health care so that general practitioners and family doctors, after receiving the necessary training, can examine and detect cases of mental disorders and provide the necessary advice and treatment.

D.There is a push to integrate mental health and psychotherapy into public hospitals so as to reduce stigma and facilitate access to mental health services.

E.Work is underway to establish a department to treat juvenile drug addicts.

F.Under Jordanian legislation, abortions are provided based on the risk to the mother’s health.

73.National health strategies include the following:

The Jordanian National Reproductive and Sexual Health Strategy was launched by the Higher Population Council on 12 December 2021. Its goals include the following: to achieve a society in which persons with disabilities enjoy a dignified and sustainable life with active participation based on fairness and equality; to implement all strategies that have not yet been implemented; and to create national programmes for reproductive and sexual education for persons with disabilities linked to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The National School Health Strategy (2018–2022) and the National Food Security Strategy 2021–2030 have been adopted, and a national nutrition strategy has been laid out.

On 12 December 2021, the Higher Population Council launched the National Strategy for Reproductive and Sexual Health (2020–2030). It revolves around four strategic axes: an enabling environment, services and information, community, and sustainability and governance. The Strategy incorporates the objectives of the Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals on health and the objectives of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, in addition to the objectives of the Multi-Sectoral Arab Strategy for Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health and the objectives of the Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration in Primary Health Care of the Arab States.

74.Activities that followed in the wake of the strategy have included the following:

1.Establishment of the Darby platform to provide information to the public

2.Capacity-building for teaching staff at Jordanian universities and charitable associations

3.Provision of local experts to raise the awareness of families and adolescents

4.Provision of safe abortion where medically indicated

5.Drafting of a national plan for the marriage of persons under 18 for the years 2018–2022, followed by an update for the years 2020–2024

6.Training adolescents to become trainers at the local level to raise awareness among adolescents about the risks of child marriage

7.Conducting studies, notably a 2022 study on arguments for ending child marriage in Jordan, a reproductive health project for adolescent refugees in camps, and a 2019 study on the underlying causes and social norms of child marriage in Jordan

B.Response to paragraph 9 (c) of the list of issues

75.There have been no cases of deportation of children with HIV in Jordanian territory.

C.Response to paragraph 9 (d) of the list of issues

76.The Ministry of Environment works under its statute to review the technical conditions of facilities for the public and children from an environmental aspect and monitor air pollution, emissions, water sources, and soil and industrial sites, taking into account development goals.

D.Response to paragraph 9 (e) of the list of issues

77.The Government has worked to launch a map for modernizing the public sector for all segments of Jordanian society as part of the 10-year plan aimed at employing one million workers in the private sector with gender-sensitivity in mind. The goal is to support families and promote sharing of child-rearing responsibilities between parents.

78.This category of refugees are children who initially registered in official refugee camps but fled with their families to unofficial and informal camps. They are distributed in various governorates and regions, including Jerash, Irbid, Mafraq-Umm al-Jimal, Sabha, Umm al-Qittayn, and the whole of the northern sector and the Jordan Valley. They are registered to receive health, education, sanitation and housing services within the official refugee camps. Services cannot be dispensed in unofficial and informal camps for several reasons, including the following:

When refugees are located in the official camps, it is easier for the Government, UNHCR and partners to provide services.

Water and electricity are free inside the official camps, as are education and health. There are trailers that provide supplies for daily life and other services.

When refugees stay in informal camps, they become easy prey for family members to exploit. They are deprived of services available to refugees in formal camps, including protection. The solution lies in returning them to formal refugee camps to promote a better living environment.

Unofficial and informal camps are often in surroundings fraught with environmental, demographic and health risks that pose a geographic or security threat to the lives of their residents. Some are located near wadis and flood-prone areas. They lack prerequisites for public safety, protection and population concentrations under international and national standards. Where such conditions are observed, they are returned to official camps so they can be in safe areas where access can be ensured to services from the Government, civil society organizations and UNHCR.

79.Under the Jordanian national vaccination programme, vaccination services are provided free of charge to all children in the Kingdom, including refugees.

IX.Response to Part I, paragraph 10, of the list of issues (query 10)

A.Response to paragraph 10 (a) and 10 (b) of the list of issues

80.The Ministry of Education has allocated more than 94 million dinars for the construction and renovation of government schools in 2022. It was specifically allocated to accommodate new students.

81.National legislation takes into account the best interests of the child. That includes the Code of Personal Status, which takes into account moral and material aspects relating to children and tries to protect and preserve their interests in accordance with clear rules and standards. Among the most important of these are the special provisions that regulate children’s rights to education and educational expenses. For example, the Code of Personal Status Law, article 190, provides that that “a father of means is obliged to provide for the education of his children at all educational levels, from the preparatory year prior the first grade of the elementary stage until the child obtains the first university degree, provided that the child is fit to learn”.

82.Some 1132 out of 3865 public schools in the Kingdom have been renovated to accommodate students with disabilities. Some 27,425 students in government education have enrolled. Learning difficulty classrooms, including for persons with disabilities, are being provided for 11,494 males and 9,862 females in line with Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

83.The Ministry of Education provides government kindergarten service within the limits of its capacity. It is working to universalize kindergartens for all nationalities through the following:

Work is currently underway to amend the Government’s kindergarten guidelines (No. 2 of 2015). A new subparagraph has been added article 14 as follows: “In exceptional cases and where justified, if the requirement for an ID number in accordance with article 5 (e) is not fulfilled, the Director of Education may accept children who do not hold the Jordanian national ID numbers”.

The Jordanian Constitution and the Education Act guarantee the right to education at the primary level for all without exception. That includes all children of all nationalities and ethnicities without discrimination.

1.Education laws are being reviewed that promote the enrolment of students with disabilities in educational institutions on the same basis as their peers without disabilities.

2.Registration procedures are being facilitated for students with disabilities in the first grade.

3.Some schools are being provided with educational tools and equipment that enable students with disabilities to learn according to their abilities.

4.The Ministry of Education is acting to purchase education services for students with disabilities from private schools, specifically for those who do not have a school close to their place of residence or have a school that lacks the capacity to take them in, in coordination with the private school and the guardian. The Ministry pays a portion of the fees in accordance with exchange controls.

5.There has been coordination with organizations working with the Ministry of Education in this area to enrol some students in schools where those organizations operate and to provide environmental and educational facilities suitable for students with disabilities.

6.No student with a disability was rejected in the first grade or at any other academic stage, in accordance with the principles of admitting students for the 2022/2023 academic year. The Ministry has worked to facilitate their admission to schools, taking into account the principles for admission.

7.A school environment is being created in which students with disabilities are present in accordance with their needs.

B.Response to paragraph 10 (c) of the list of issues

84.The Ministry of Education is working to provide education for children who are not in school and to expand informal education programmes as follows:

It is expanding implementation of the programme to promote culture for dropouts with the aim of providing education to children who are not in school. It includes children aged 12 to 18 for males and 12 to 20 for females. Some 204 centres have been opened in which 4,387 students are enrolled.

It is expanding implementation of the remedial education programme with the aim of providing education to children aged 9 to 12 who are outside the education system. The programme consists of three educational levels. Each level lasts an academic year. A child can complete two grades in a single academic year, and on that basis can return to the formal education system if their age allows. Some 79 centres have been opened in with 1,309 boy and girl students enrolled.

It is expanding implementation of the non-formal learners programme (home schooling) with the aim of providing education for children who are out of school through self-learning and enabling them to take school exams at the end of the first and second semesters of each academic year. The programme has helped to provide education to some 6,680 students.

It is expanding implementation of the adult education and literacy programme with the aim of providing education to illiterate children over the age of 15 who are out of school. There are some 144 adult education and literacy centres in which 1,729 students are enrolled.

Education during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

1.The Ministry of Education has worked to make available the Darsak TV platform, which broadcasts education for students according to the national curriculum via a television channel.

2.Accounts were created on Microsoft Teams for students and teachers at a Kingdom-wide level.

3.The Ministry of Education has also provided tablets for students who were unable to afford them, subsidized Internet subscriptions, and followed up of technical problems in areas with Internet coverage problems by allowing students back into schools to use it, within the health guidelines for confronting the epidemic.

85.Review of the annual monitoring reports issued by the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the years 2019 to 2020 yields the following conclusions:

There are 1,194 inclusive schools that specialize in teaching blind and severely visually impaired students distributed over 42 education directorates. There are 640 deaf male and female students enrolled in Amal schools for the deaf.

The percentage of students with multiple disabilities was 38 per cent, or 3,141 male and female students. Students with visual and hearing disabilities numbered 2,996, or 36 per cent. Students with neurological disabilities numbered 1,016, or 12 per cent. Students with physical disabilities number 872, or 10 per cent. Students with intellectual disabilities numbered 343, or 4 per cent. There are no students with psychological disabilities.

There were 3141 students with multiple disabilities; 554 with speech and language disorders; 1,225 with visual disabilities, 1,207 with hearing disabilities; 872 with motor disabilities, 222 with mental disabilities; 10 albinos; and 69 with autism.

C.Response to paragraph 10 (d) of the list of issues

86.The Ministry of Education takes gender into account in all its educational activities. All male and female students have the opportunity to enrol in formal and non-formal education programmes. The Ministry also takes preventive measures that include providing students with guidance on the consequences of early marriage through continuous awareness campaigns conducted inside schools.

87.As for the procedures followed for a girl student who gets married, she may complete her studies at home informally, or remain in school formally. A special female educational counsellor is made aware of any matters that might impinge on her academic and educational progress.

D.Response to paragraph 10 (e) of the list of issues

88.Mechanisms to prevent violence are reinforced by the circulation at the beginning of each academic year of the prohibition against corporal punishment of students under penalty of disciplinary accountability contained in the Civil Service Act, No. 9 of 2020, article 69 (g).

89.Numbers for reporting abuse and violence in schools (hotline numbers) have been published, as have other official reporting mechanisms.

90.School staff have been provided with capacity-building to address cases of violence through various training workshops to enable teachers to deal with cases of violence, bullying and cyberbullying in cooperation.

91.The Ministry, in cooperation with UNICEF, conducts its “Together towards a Safe School Environment” programme in all schools of the Kingdom monthly for students in grades 4 through 11, with the aim of reducing the incidence of violence in all its forms. Rates of violence are kept track of through an electronic survey questionnaire.

92.The SAWA programme aims to provide safe spaces that ensure security and protection for all students. It works to support all children and youth to confront bullying inside and outside schools. It enlists the participation of local society and students in the school community through safe school environment councils and develops proactive activities to reduce bullying that emphasize student learning, participation and leadership through volunteering. It is part of the multisectoral national strategy to end violence against children in Jordan 2019–2022.

93.During the COVID-19 pandemic, a campaign to counter cyberbullying was launched to raise awareness about cyberbullying and how to prevent it among parents, caregivers, children, adolescents and teachers, and to provide parents with tools to reduce potential cyberbullying and advocate for a child-safe online environment. The campaign targeted 60 activists and influencers on social networking sites to make them partners in spreading knowledge and awareness through their pages and accounts in the belief that they could act as a positive influence. Media materials such as videos, sketches, animation and pictures were produced to deliver the message. Notices about children’s issues have been posted on billboards in public places.

94.There is also a manual of procedures for the Ministry of Education to deal with cases of domestic violence, child protection and school violence. It covers preparing workers to confront bullying among students.

95.Review of the annual report of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for 2021 shows that the following has been done:

Two training workshops were held for mothers of children with disabilities in the basics of speech therapy. They were attended by 20 mothers.

A training workshop was held for mothers of children with disabilities in the basics of physiotherapy. It was attended by 18 mothers.

Home visits are being made to families of persons with disabilities by project volunteers to provide services to persons with disabilities in their normal environments. There were 66 beneficiaries of 883 home visits, including 30 males and 36 females.

Special education day centres are affiliated with the Ministry of Education in accordance with Article 20 (b)/1 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (No. 20 of 2017).

E.Response to paragraph 10 (f) of the list of issues

96.The Children’s Rights Act mandated the construction of model parks for children. That will be followed up, as will expansion of existing ones. We note that there are currently 137 parks in addition to five major parks in the capital, Amman. In the governorates, the city of Zarqa has nine free public parks and work is underway to renovate two.

X.Response to Part I, paragraph 11, of the list of issues(query 11)

A.Response to paragraphs 11 (a), 11 (b) and 11 (c) of the list of issues

97.UNHCR handles asylum applications, and grants “refugee” and “asylum seeker” documents and registers Syrian children, their families and others.

98.Protection of children of Palestinian origin and their families who fled the Syrian Arab Republic is guaranteed. They are not sent back. The only people deported are those who have been sentenced by a Jordanian criminal judicial authority on charges related to drugs or terrorism, which are violations that require deportation under the Residence Act. We note that the deportations covered by this paragraph have been suspended since 2018.

99.Holders of Palestinian Authority passports do not pay any residence fines. Holders of the Jordanian Bridges Green Card do not pay fines in cases of violation of the residence act. A lump sum is paid when residence status is corrected. In all cases, children enjoy all rights and are not subject to any penalties.

XI.Response to Part I, paragraph 12, of the list of issues (query 12)

A.Response to paragraph 12 (a) of the list of issues

100.A national team was formed to update the national strategy to combat child labour headed by the Ministry of Labour by a decision of the Prime Minister issued on 6 June 2021. The team includes a number of ministries, civil society institutions, international organizations, representatives of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce and the Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions.

101.The National Strategy to Curb Child Labour (2022–2030) and its implementation plan for the year 2022 were approved by the Cabinet on 26 June 2022. It specifies the tasks and roles of all official and non-official bodies working to reduce child labour with a specific timeframe. The National Council for Family Affairs is responsible for following up and assessing implementation of the Strategy.

102.With regard to resources allocated for the implementation of the National Strategy to Curb Child Labour (2022–2030) and its implementation plan, each entity included in the implementation plan for 2022 finances the activities and tasks assigned to it within its budget. It was agreed that each entity will draw as much as possible on funding available from international projects and programmes related to curbing child labour.

103.The National Strategy to Curb Child Labour revolves around three axes:

First axis: the legislative axis of curbing child labour

Second axis: the prevention and protection axis on eliminating child labour. That includes the following three components:

Third axis: Governance, partnerships and alliances

104.A 2022 amendment to the Jordanian Penal Code, article 389, increased the penalty for exploiting children for begging from three months to a year “for persons found to have enlisted or encouraged a minor under 16 years old to beg or solicit alms”. The penalty is stiffer for repeat offences.

105.A 2021 amendment to the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act in 2021 increased the fine for the organized use of children for begging from 3,000 to 10,000 dinars.

B.Response to paragraph 12 (b) of the list of issues

106.In 2016, a Child Labour Unit was established at the Ministry of Social Development to work with child labourers and their families.

107.Social support centres for child labourers have been established in various regions of the Kingdom to provide social, psychological and economic services (economic empowerment) for child labourers and beggars. Case management methodology for child labourers and beggars is used in accordance with the 2020 national framework for eliminating cases of child labourers and beggars and the 2020 manual of procedures for dealing with child labourers and beggars.

108.There were 337 social studies done of child labourers. Social, psychological and counselling services were provided to them through social service offices in accordance with the 2022 manual of procedures for dealing with child labourers and beggars. They included 332 males and 5 females.

109.Contributions were made to updating the National Strategy to Curb Child Labour (2022–2030).

XII.Response to Part I, paragraph 13, of the list of issues (query 13)

110.A new juvenile act has been drafted in line with international standards. It is under study in preparation for undergoing the constitutional stages.

111.In implementation of the provisions of the Juvenile Act (No. 32 of 2014), dedicated buildings have been set aside for the juvenile court in the governorates of Amman, Irbid and Zarqa. In the rest of the governorates, juvenile courts are located within other court complexes at the present time. Juvenile magistrate courts have been formed in each governorate and juvenile courts have been formed in the governorate capitals.

112.The Judicial Council has assigned members of the Office of the Public Prosecutor to handle juvenile cases in implementation of article 7 of the aforementioned Act. The Council has also nominated judges who specialize in juvenile justice and judges to execute sentences. The following should be noted:

There are 23 prosecutors assigned to juvenile justice.

There are 63 judges specializing in juvenile justice.

113.Judges also received qualitative training courses on various topics involving how to approach juvenile cases, including investigating, taking statements, hearing testimonies, modern techniques in line with international standards, and other related topics.

Year	Number of judges and prosecutors who received juvenile justice training
2018	112
2019	68
2021	56
November 2022	76

114.The justice sector strategy for the years 2022–2026 has a component on the development of litigation processes that contains strategic objectives related to the development of juvenile justice, including raising the efficiency and effectiveness of juvenile justice administration and infrastructure development. It aims to provide institutional services for juveniles and expand dispute resolution.

115.An analytical study on juvenile justice was prepared in partnership with UNICEF. In 2022, the Council worked in partnership with the UNHCR on drafting an analytical study and guide for non-custodial measures to promote restorative justice in the juvenile sector and avoid recidivism for juvenile criminals.

116.A memorandum of understanding was signed by the National Council for Family Affairs, the Ministry of Social Development and the National Company for Employment and Training to refer juveniles aged 16 to 18 for vocational studies. It grants juveniles certificates that qualify them to work after they reach the age of majority.

117.Article 4 of Regulation No. 119 (2018) on legal assistance provides for the priority of granting legal aid to juveniles.

118.Settlement and mediation in juvenile cases are conducted at the Family and Juvenile Protection Department by qualified officers in civilian clothing. That includes management of behaviour and identification of support services needed by the juvenile to ensure that there is no repeat offence. The idea is to avoid involving the juvenile in official judicial proceedings.

Statistics on juvenile cases that were referred to the judiciary and in which dispute settlement procedures were carried out
Item	2019	Percentage	2020	Percentage	2021	Percentage	2022	Percentage	Total	Percentage
Referred to the judiciary	2 033	32%	3 990	68%	2 865	60%	3 140	56%	12 028	54%
Settled	4 254	68%	1 890	32%	1 885	40%	2 424	44%	10 453.	46%
Total	6 287	100%	5 880	100%	4 750	100%	5 564	100%	22 481	100%

119.Support services are provided by 227 qualified employees at the Ministry of Social Development. Specialists in civilian clothes have been appointed at the Family and Juvenile Protection Department. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Royal Medical Services and the Family and Juvenile Protection Department to provide support to staff in the social and psychological sectors.

XIII.Response to Part I, paragraph 14, of the list of issues (query 14)

A.Response to paragraph 12 (a)–(c) of the list of issues

120.The Prevention of Human Trafficking Act provides for protection and guarantees to curb the exploitation and sale of children. It translates the Optional Protocol. The Code of Criminal Procedure provides for extraterritorial jurisdiction in cases of exploitation of children via electronic means.

121.The Code of Personal Status covers capacity, personal freedom and protection from child exploitation that stems from family neglect. Article 207 provides that “no one may waive their personal freedom or capacity or amend provisions relating thereto”. Article 184 of the Code provides for follow-up, care and protection for children and foster children.

122.The Prevention of Human Trafficking Law was amended on 2 May 2021 to increase the penalty in article 8 on cases of exploitation.

123.Juveniles are considered to be in need of protection and care in cases of exploitation for work, forced marriage or neglect under article 33 of the Juvenile Act. In 2019, support services were provided to 285 males and 338 females, a total of 623. That statistic includes multiple nationalities without any discrimination in provision of services and in line with Goals 16 and 17.

B.Response to paragraph 14 (d) of the list of issues

124.With the Kingdom’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the two protocols thereto, they are now an integral part of Jordanian legislation. That means that the legal provisions of the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography can be applied to enable the Jordanian judiciary to extend its jurisdiction over crimes covered by the Protocol committed outside Jordan. It should be noted that there were more than 170 court decisions based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. On the question of personal jurisdiction for applicability of the Jordanian Penal Code, article 10 and other articles list cases in which perpetrators of such crimes outside the territory of the Kingdom can be prosecuted, including the following:

The first case: A crime committed by a person who holds Jordanian nationality at the time of the commission of the crime or acquires it after committing it. The legislator allows the national judiciary to prosecute such a person for a crime committed abroad and penalize them for it under the provisions of the Jordanian Penal Code. For this case to be applicable, the perpetrator must not have been penalized for the crime in question outside of Jordan and had the penalty enforced, or have had a judgment handed down that ruled them innocent or not responsible, or have been covered by a general amnesty.

The second case: A crime committed by a foreigner residing in the Kingdom. The legislator allows the provisions of the Penal Code to serve as the basis for the criminal prosecution of any foreigner who has committed a crime abroad, regardless of his role in the crime, whether perpetrator, accomplice, instigator or accessory, if the act committed outside the Kingdom is a felony or misdemeanour and the perpetrator of the crime is resident in the Kingdom. The applicability of this case depends on an extradition request for such a foreigner not being requested or accepted.

The third case: The Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings Act, article 3 (c) provides for extraterritorial legal and judicial jurisdiction to prosecute perpetrators of transnational crimes.

125.The Code of Criminal Procedure, article 5, provides as follows: “4. A public action lawsuit may be filed against the defendant before the courts if a crime is committed by electronic means outside the Kingdom and its effects manifest in whole or in part within it or on any of its citizens”. This shows that such crimes of exploitation of children outside the country on the Internet are considered to fall within the jurisdiction of the Jordanian courts.

126.On the technical side, a special unit for investigating cases of sexual exploitation of children via the Internet has been opened in the Family and Juvenile Protection Department. It is equipped with the latest technologies used by a qualified staff to track abusers and work to arrest them and bring them to trial, and to gain access to abused children to ensure their protection. Cooperation is also engaged in with the INTERPOL, with cases and information on abusers followed up and referred to the judiciary.

XIV.Response to Part I, paragraph 15, of the list of issues (query 15)

127.(a)The National Council for Family Affairs coordinates among ministries, government agencies and partners to implement the protocols on children in line with Goals 16 and 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

(b)There are no armed movements on Jordanian territory, there are no security companies inside Jordan to employ children, and no recruitment of children has been detected.

(c)Public Security does not employ any officers or individuals under the age of 18. Provisions allow for taking job applications as a formality for the purposes of enrolling in military education after reaching the legal age.

(d)The Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, article 3, provides for the prosecution of transnational crimes on the basis of extraterritorial jurisdiction. Cases of child recruitment of that nature can therefore be prosecuted. We stress that there is no official or unofficial recruitment of children inside Jordan.

XV.Response to Part I, paragraph 16, of the list of issues (query 16)

New bills or laws and their respective regulations

128.Article 6 of the Jordanian Constitution was amended in 2022 to give more protection to vulnerable groups. That was followed by efforts to amend and adopt a number of legislative provisions related to these groups. The following legislation has been promulgated:

1.The Children’s Rights Act (No. 17 of 2022) provides for services and protection for children, and follow-up of their status with a periodic report.

2.Certain articles of the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act were amended on 2 May 2021, including provision for a victims’ compensation fund, expansion of the types of cases categorized as human trafficking, and increased penalties.

3.The Legal Assistance Regulation (No. 119 of 2018) and amendments thereto, adopted in 2022, provide for admissibility requirements for cases and priority to be placed on children.

4.Instructions for the criteria for approving parties to enforce measures annexed to dispute resolution decisions in domestic violence cases for the year 2021 were issued under the 2019 regulation for measures annexed to dispute resolution decisions in domestic violence cases.

5.The 2018 instructions for shelters for women at risk contain a provision on accommodating children under 10 accompanying their mothers.

6.A study was done of the regulation on shelters for victims and those affected by human trafficking crimes (No. 30 of 2012).

7.A draft regulation for the Human Trafficking Victims’ Assistance Fund for the year 2023 was approved.

New institutions and their mandates or institutional reforms

The Family Protection Department was established in 1997. In March 2021, the Family Protection Department was merged with the Juvenile Department under the name Family and Juvenile Protection Department with the goal of providing better-quality services from specialized officers in a single department.

Under the Children’s Rights Act, the National Council for Family Affairs is mandated to issue a periodic report on the condition of children in Jordan.

129.With regard to the number of criminal investigations by the Public Prosecutor related to child trafficking, the Mizan data are as follows:

2020: 1 case

2021: None

2022: 3 investigative cases

130.As for the number of convictions for human trafficking cases with child victims, there was one in 2022, where the number of child victims was two.

131.Organized begging was added to the 2021 Prevention of Human Trafficking Act. These are the new amendments to the 2021 Prevention of Human Trafficking Act.

132.With regard to recently introduced policies, programmes and action plans, their scope and financing:

1.The Juvenile Justice Steering Committee approved the Juvenile Justice Implementation Plan for the years 2021–2024.

2.An analytical study of non-custodial measures for juveniles was prepared in 2022. It has been launched and covers ways of promoting alternatives to prison sentences. A manual is being drafted for staff.

3.Work has been done on frameworks to curb begging and child labour and prevent human trafficking.

4.The strategy of the criminal justice sector for the years 2022–2026 included a special component on juveniles.

Under juvenile care and shelter programmes, 16 child-care homes have been legally accredited by the Judicial Council.

A social support and case management centre for child labourers will be established in the ِAmman Juvenile Education and Rehabilitation Home in North Amman.

5.A social support and case management centre for child labourers will be established in the Irbid home for the education of juvenile delinquents aged 16 to 18.

A strategy for social care homes 2022–2026 was approved with five approved axes.

133.With regard to recent ratifications of human rights instruments: Jordan has not ratified any human rights instrument since 2019.

XVI.Response to Part III, paragraph 17, of the list of issues (query 17)

134.Statistics were provided in answer to the second query. They are in accordance with the State Budget Act for the specified years. Training courses for child-friendly budgets were held annually during the years 2009 to 2018 for workers in government institutions concerned with managing resources and expenditures allocated to children. Budgets are posted for the public on the website of the General Budget Office.

XVII.Response to Part III, paragraph 18, of the list of issues (query 18)

A.Response to paragraph 18 (a) of the list of issues

135.The answer was provided in response to the fourth query.

B.Response to paragraph 18 (b) of the list of issues

Year	Number of domestic violence cases	Number of victims
Males	Females	Total
2019	Sexual	954	376	656	1 032
	Physical	390	249	241	490
	Miscellaneous	126	50	99	149
Total		1 470	675	996	1 671
2020	Sexual	844	392	557	949
	Physical	408	264	257	521
	Miscellaneous	134	41	107	148
Total		1 386	697	921	1 618
2021	Sexual	581	347	562	9 009
	Physical	458	301	309	610
	Miscellaneous	165	60	127	187
Total		1 474	708	998	1 706

C.Response to paragraph 18 (c) of the list of issues

136.According to reports from the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the victimization of children with disabilities in this regard, a number of complaints have been received about children with disabilities – both enrolled and not enrolled in public schools – being exposed to various forms of violence. These include but are not limited to not being accepted by other schoolchildren and being bullied. The percentage of complaints related to this was 18 per cent in 2018, 21 per cent in 2019, and 13 per cent in 2021.

D.Response to paragraph 18 (d) of the list of issues

137.As for the exploitation of children for forced labour, from the year 2019 to date, no case of forced labour of domestic workers has been detected by the Ministry of Labour. Should any indicators of any case of forced labour be uncovered, regardless of sector, the case will be referred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit to initiate the necessary investigations in accordance with its competence and authorities.

E.Response to paragraph 18 (e) of the list of issues

138.The numbers of human trafficking cases were provided in response to query16.

F.Response to paragraph 18 (f) and (g) of the list of issues

139.There are no statistics available on asylum seekers and refugees entering Jordan who may have been forcibly recruited abroad. State agencies are ready to deal with such cases through social and psychological rehabilitation services as needed in coordination with UNHCR.

XVIII.Response to Part III, paragraph 19, of the list of issues (query 19)

140.National activities linked to the report on the Millennium Development Goals include the following: The National Council for Family Affairs held a series of expanded workshops with partners to discuss and follow up recommendations of the report on children's rights report for the years 2014–2022 on an ongoing basis in partnership with UNICEF Jordan. The Sustainable Development Goals were incorporated, and the sixth national report on the Convention and the two protocols was drafted on that basis. The National Council for Family Affairs held an expanded consultative workshop on the Children's Rights Act in 2021 to discuss benefits from the Children's Rights Act in the long term. Jordanian State institutions expressed their interest in providing services to children, continuously assessing them, and studying statistics.

141.The answer was provided in response to the second query.

142.The National Council also holds intensive training courses for workers at the regional level for the purposes of providing the best services to children, and classifying and developing them. The Council targets an average of 500 government employees for training related to combating violence against children at the national level, in line with Goals 8 and 16. Participants are qualified through training within their institutions in line with the components of the Convention and the Sustainable Development Goals.

XIX.Response to Part III, paragraph 20, of the list of issues (query 20)

143.The data in the report have been updated and the latest developments incorporated in the answers to the list of issues.

XX.Response to Part III, paragraph 21, of the list of issues (query 21)

144.It is a priority of the State to increase logistical cooperation between States to provide increased services to children. Jordan has taken in more than 1.4 million refugees, of whom approximately 45 per cent are children. That requires provision of health care, education services, water, energy, infrastructure and employment opportunities, all of which has created obligations and indebtedness for the Jordanian Government as it covers multiple needs in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

145.Priorities relating to implementation of the Convention:

Expanded training on the psychological and social aspects of dealing with children and legal assistance.

Provisions of health care to those under the age of 18 and all children residing on the Kingdom’s territory. Challenges include financial and logistical allocations to cover updating digital evidence stations and international software licenses necessary to track cases of exploitation via the Internet, and outfitting laboratories with technology for receiving complaints from deaf and mute persons via video calls.

Among the challenges facing the Kingdom is the provision of financial support programmes earmarked for poor families and children, as well as defraying to the costs of providing services to refugee children.