Committee on the Rights of the Child

Sixty-sixth session

26 May–13 June 2014

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports of States parties

List of issues in relation to the initial report submitted by Jordan under article 12, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

The State party is requested to submit in writing additional, updated information (15 pages maximum), if possible before 1 March 2014.

The Committee may take up all aspects of children’s rights contained in the Optional Protocol during the dialogue with the State Party.

1.Please provide information on the progress made towards the establishment of a system of data collection covering all offences under the Optional Protocol.

2.Please provide statistical data (disaggregated by sex, age, nationality, socio-economic background and urban and rural residence) for 2011, 2012 and 2013 on the number of:

(a)Reported acts of sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, as well as other forms of exploitation including child sex tourism, with additional information on the type of action taken as a result, including the prosecution and punishment of perpetrators;

(b)Children trafficked from or through Jordan and children trafficked within the country for the purpose of sale, prostitution, engagement in forced labour, illegal adoptions, organ transfer or pornography as defined in article 3, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol;

(c)Children offered, delivered, accepted by whatever means for the purpose of prostitution, engagement in forced labour, illegal adoptions, organ transfer, pornography or marriage; and

(d)Child victims who have been provided assistance with reintegration or have received compensation.

3.With reference to paragraph 15 of the State Party’s report, please clarify which body is responsible for the coordination of the implementation of the Optional Protocol.

4.Please provide information on the resources specifically allocated and spent for the implementation of the Optional Protocol.

5.With reference to paragraph 10 of the report, where the State party recognizes the need to further raise awareness and promote education about the offences in the Optional Protocol, please provide updated information on initiatives taken in this respect. In particular, please provide information on the measures specifically aimed at making children aware of the harmful consequences of such practices, and on resources of assistance intended to prevent children from falling victim to them.

6.Please provide further details on preventive measures which have been taken to protect from offences under the Optional Protocol children in particularly vulnerable situations, such as girls who are victims of domestic violence, children in street situations, migrant and refugee children, and children living in institutions. Please also provide additional information on the criteria leading to the identification of families as “families at risk”. With reference to paragraphs 43 and 44 of the State Party’s report, please indicate whether alternatives to the judicial orders authorizing the temporary holding of begging children in welfare centres have been envisaged.

7.With reference to paragraph 48 of the State Party’s report on the obligation for parents to support their children, please indicate whether the State party intends to impose such an obligation without discriminating between girls and boys.

8.Please provide information on initiatives taken by the State party to prevent child sex tourism and whether the State party has taken any measures to disseminate the Code of Conduct developed by the World Tourism Organization on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism.

9.Please clarify if all forms of sale of children, covered in article 2(a) and article 3 paragraph 1 (a)(i) (b) and (c) of the Optional Protocol have been explicitly defined and criminalized. Please also indicate whether the State party intends to properly define child prostitution and child pornography and ensure that penalties for these offences are proportionate to the gravity of these crimes.

10.With reference to articles 310 and 311 of the Criminal Code, please clarify whether a person who involves a girl under 18 years of age in prostitution could escape prosecution and punishment if the girl is deemed to be of “ill repute”. Please also clarify whether a person who procures a boy under 18 years of age for any type of sexual activities could be prosecuted and punished.

11.Taking into account article 319, please clarify whether the private possession of child pornography is punishable. If so, please specify under which legislative provision.

12.Please provide information on the measures to develop holistic and victim-centred methods to identify children, such as unaccompanied children entering the State party,who are, or who are at risk of becoming, victims of child trafficking, sale, prostitution and pornography. In particular, please provide detailed information on the steps taken to ensure a “best interests determination” for unaccompanied children in all decisions throughout immigration-related procedures, and establish a system of guardianship for them to protect their best interests in all immigration-related proceedings.

13.Please elaborate on the measures taken to protect the rights and interests of child victims and witnesses of crimes under the Optional Protocol at all stages of criminal proceedings. Please also indicate the measures taken to ensure that child victims of offences under the Optional Protocol are treated as victims in need of recovery and reintegration, and not criminalized as offenders.

14.Please provide further information on social reintegration assistance as well as physical and psychosocial recovery measures available for victims of offences covered by the Optional Protocol. Please also indicate how the State party ensures that child victims are properly informed about the existence of such services. Please indicate what measures are taken to avoid the stigmatization and marginalization of victims.