Hot Issues

Violence against Children

Violence is defined as all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity.

Violence includes different types, which are:

In Jordan, although the issue of protecting children from violence is a cornerstone of major government policies, its application can be obstructed by social and cultural norms and economic realities. Children with disabilities, unaccompanied or separated children, children without parental care, children from marginalized minority communities, and children living and/or working on the streets face some disparities. Refugee children and children from poor families are also sorely lacking in terms of child protection services.

Although corporal punishment is prohibited by law in schools and alternative care and rehabilitation centres, the use of violence in these places and at homes is still widely accepted socially and culturally. 81% of children suffer from disciplinary violence (psychological and / or physical).

Highlight

Violence inflicted on children, based on the Population and Family Health Survey 2017:

• 81% of children aged 1-14 years have been exposed to violent discipline methods.
• 76% of children have been subjected to any form of psychological punishment.
• 59% have been subjected to any form of corporal punishment
• 13% have experienced any type of severe physical punishment.
• 14% of adults in Jordan believe that a child needs corporal punishment in order to be properly raised or educated.

According to the National Child Labour Survey conducted in 2016, more than 76,000 children are involved in economic activities, including about 45,000 children who are involved in hazardous work. Poverty and the lack of adequate livelihood opportunities for the family are the main drivers of child labour.

According to the 2015 population census, it was found that 3.7% of girls between the ages of 13 to 17 are married, of which 2% are Jordanians and 13% are Syrian girls (Department of Statistics and ICF International, 2013). The Syrian crisis has exacerbated the prevalence of early marriage and increased the likelihood of girls being exploited.