Jordan launches procedures to tackle gender-based violence, child protection

AMMAN — Deputising for Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, Minister of Social Development Basma Ishaqat on Monday launched national procedures aimed at preventing and responding to violence against women and children, and a manual for healthcare providers on treating sexual assault victims.

The procedures were designed to deal with gender-based violence and child protection and aim at identifying possible areas of collaboration among organisations, as well as assigning responsibility for cases to relevant authorities, according to a National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) statement.

Ishaqat noted the importance of the 2017 Domestic Violence Prevention Law in enhancing protection.

She also drew attention to a recently released manual which lays the general framework of policies and programmes aimed at preventing gender-based violence, domestic violence and violence against children.

During the launch ceremony, UNICEF Jordan Deputy Representative Ettie Higgins thanked the Kingdom for giving priority to the issue of violence against children. She also expressed UNICEF’s support for a national protection policy aimed at eliminating violence against children.

UNHCR Senior Protection Officer Douglas DiSalvo said that these unified procedures would contribute to implementing national policies in the field on the ground.

The procedures were prepared in partnership with the NCFA and UN organisations in Jordan: UNICEF, UNHCR and the United Nations Population Fund, under the National Team for Family Protection’s supervision, the statement said.