COVID-19 crisis and lockdown impose new reality on Jordanians

AMMAN — Activists and experts warned of the lack of official reports that explain the social impact of the COVID-19 crisis on family stability and security and its social implications.

The experts in an online session organised by Solidarity Is Global Institute (SIGI) also warned that the absence or marginalisation of local organisations working on issues related to family safety during the COVID-19 crisis is preventing them from reaching out to people who need urgent assistance or victims of domestic violence.

National Council for Family Affairs Secretary General Mohammad Miqdadi said the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdown imposed a new reality on Jordanians, especially economic and employment factors.

“Many people realised in the past two months that the public sector is safer than the private sector because their salaries and job securities were not affected and this might push many in the future to try to join the public sector, which might affect the economy and the labour market,” Miqdadi explained.

SIGI President Inam Ashaa added during the lecture that several “people employed by the public sector might not receive their salaries or receive a small percentage and this is a dangerous sign that might also cause social imbalances and disruptions in the near future”.

The experts also referred to a survey that was conducted by the Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) last week, which indicted that 54 per cent of the Jordanians are unaware of the proper means to contact the organisations that are offering help and guidance in domestic violence cases, while 66 per cent believed that family altercations during the COVID-19 lockdown is normal and acceptable.

President of Women Helping Women Network Nuha Muhreiz who also took part in the lecture said that lack of salaries and financial security will reflect negatively on families and “might contribute in increasing cases of domestic violence”.

Meanwhile, SIGI Executive Director Asma Khader the work should focus on promoting total respect and dividing of roles between husband and wife.

Khader added: “Solving family problems and disputes is based on each party respecting the other and obviously the COVID-19 crisis showed new positive patterns that need to be promoted within the families”.

“It became clear that the lockdown showed new practices whereby husbands and wives are collaborating with each other and this an important and positive change,” Khader stressed.