JANUARY 2004

None Issued!

MAY 2004

SOCIAL RECONCILIATION WORKSHOP
A workshop on social reconciliation was organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jordan Office in cooperation with Mawadda Institute for Family Excellence in May 2004.
UNICEF aims at supporting national efforts that work on developing mechanisms to protect the family from divorce. Article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child  stipulates that the child has the right of maintaining personal relations and direct contact with both parents on a regular basis except if it is contrary to the child’s best interest. Article 27 also stipulates that the parents have the primary responsibility to secure within their abilities and financial capacities, the conditions of living necessary for the child’s development and the state is responsible to take appropriate measures to assist parents to implement this right.
The workshop headed by Dr. Abdel Salam Darwish, Head of Reconciliation Department at Dubai courts in UAE, discussed different themes which included family counseling skills, arts of conducting dialogue and persuasion skills, problem solving, decision making, and dealing with different types of personalities. Reconciliation experiences in courts were presented during the workshop and a discussion took place about domestic problems, causes and ways of dealing with them.
A number of judges from Shari’a courts from all over the Kingdom attended the workshop along with representatives of different Non-Governmental Organisations working in the field of family counseling.

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JUNE 2004

National Early Childhood Indicators and Standards Workshop 29th June 2004\
The National Council for Family Affairs ,UNICEF and Colombia University in the United States hosted a  workshop today the 29th June entitled “the National Early Childhood Indicators and Standards Workshop”, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, in Amman.
The workshop, which brought together around 80 representatives engaged in Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes in the country from the relevant ministries, non-governmental organisations, as well as academicians and experts in the field, aimed at revising the draft lists of ECD standards and indicators as well as assessing whether or not these standards and indicators were culturally appropriate, as part of a national project, initiated by NCFA and UNICEF, in 2003.  The development process was initiated by  an advisory group, consisting of key ministries and NGOs involved in ECD programmes in Jordan, as well as the relevant academicians and experts in the field and developed by six working groups, which were formed as per the agreed upon child developmental domains of the national framework, representing different aspects of children’s development and reflecting a multi-dimensional approach to the concept. An international consultant was also recruited for revising the existing international literature on ECD standards and indicators.
The development of this process is part of a global UNICEF initiative where Jordan was chosen due to its track record in the development of ECD and the only Arab country among other six countries and it is hoped that other Arab countries will join the initiative.

The project, which entails establishing a national framework of standards and indicators for planning and assessing the impact of ECD interventions in Jordan, is part of a wider project for developing global ECD indicators, coordinated by Colombia University.
Following a number of presentations by the organizational parties, on the overall development process, in general, and in Jordan, in particular, as well as the key considerations involved in such a process, participants were divided into six working groups, in line with the following domains of the national framework:
* Language and Literacy Development: This entails verbal communication and emerging literacy skills. 
*Social and Emotional Development: This domain reflects the foundation for relationships, giving meaning to experiences at home, school and the larger community.
* Gross and Fine Motor Development.
* Logic and Reasoning: This being the ability to understand relationships between objects, event and people, including mathematical knowledge.
* Approaches to Learning: This domain focuses on disposition and style, rather than skill, towards becoming involved in learning and acquiring knowledge.
* Health and Physical Development
After presenting their findings, a number of recommendations were drawn up, serving as a guide for both the NCFA and UNICEF, assisting them in identifying the way forward.
In its capacity as the main body concerned with overseeing the sound implementation of the National Early Childhood Development Strategy, NCFA, through this project, is working to achieve one of the nine goals of the National ECD Plan of Action, being the operational instrument of the Strategy.

Omani Delegation from the Ministry of Social Development Visits Jordan
Amman (6 June, 2004) With the aim of learning more from the Kingdom’s experience   with institutions providing services for orphaned children and those deprived of parental care, a four member delegation from the Omani Ministry of Social Development arrived in Jordan for  a  working visit.
The delegation started its study tour on Sunday with a visit to the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF), who facilitated for this information exchange. Members were briefed on the organisation’s work in Jordan particularly in the field of child protection. The delegation is headed by Mohammed Mubarak AlHusni, Director of the Omani Child Care Home for orphans, and also comprises three supervisors Amal Khamis AlBalushi, Rashida Abdullah AlBalushi, and Salwa Homoud Bind Saeed AlRuqayshi. 
“In all of our interventions, we emphasize the importance of discouraging the institutionalization of children and insist on alternate care within the family and community,” said Nasser Moeini, UNICEF Officer in Charge.
In the World Fit for Children declaration, states, including Jordan, committed themselves to promoting the establishment of prevention, support and caring services as well as justice systems specifically applicable to children, taking into account the principles of restorative justice, and fully safeguarding children’s rights and providing specially trained staff that promotes the reintegration of children in society, explained Maha Homsi ,

UNICEF Child Protection Officer
Jordan has 24 institutions housing mostly children from broken homes and some orphans. In 2003 there were 1,215 children in these organisations.
The delegation   visited its local counterparts at the Ministry of Social Development and met with officials at AlHussein Social Institution. Field visits will focus on governmental and nongovernmental organisations providing services to children with a special emphasis on orphans, and children deprived of parental care.
On Monday, the Omani delegation will visit Dar AlAman, the Family Protection Directorate, and Dar AlBir for orphans. The three day visit will conclude with a visit to an SOS village and the Haya Cultural Centre.

LAUNCH OF “YOUTH AND EDUCATION” FACT SHEET
Amman (10 June) Approximately 90 % of all young Jordanians between 1014 years consider education crucial to their future and as a means for better job opportunities. For them, education is an asset to acquire important skills.
These findings and more were generated from the 2002 Jordanian National Youth Survey and are captured in the “Youth and Education” fact sheet which will be launched in Jordan on Sunday (13 June, 2004). This fact sheet is the second in a series of 6 to be released this year. It has been written in a userfriendly manner with direct and accessible information for all to read and use.  It tackles different aspects of adolescents’ perceptions and behavioural trends and highlights findings and recommendations in context to education.
“Jordan under its leadership, headed by His Majesty King Abdullah II, should be commended for its commitment and investment in its people as its most precious resource. This investment has paid off with a highly educated population of young people. The Ministry of Education’s strategy of directly linking education to a knowledgebased economy is a tool for creating job opportunities for youth in Jordan,” said Anne Skatvedt, UNICEF Representative in Jordan.

UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Education and the Higher Council for Youth to promote skills which empower young people to be active citizens, and to be able to compete globally in this knowledge based eeconomy.
National Youth Policy Development
The base line data generated from the Jordanian National Youth Survey is feeding into  Jordan’s National Youth Strategy developed in partnership with the Higher Council for Youth and the United Nations Development Programme. One of the themes of this youth policy is youth and education.
According to the “Youth and Education” fact sheet young people see the purpose of education in ways that differ by sex: Boys believe education to be a means for better job opportunities, followed by a way to better understand problems, followed by the belief in the value of education.  Girls, on the other hand, primarily value education in itself, then they see it as a way to better understand problems, followed by the means for job opportunities and to achieve self confidence.
Data indicates that more girls than boys, aged 1519 years, are enrolled in schools in the Kingdom. It is worth noting that the high enrollment rates of girls in basic education is not translated in the participation of young girls in vocational training programs and at universities.
Understanding Young People
Jordan celebrates on Sunday the official launch of the International Year of the Family under the motto of “a proactive family in a changing world.” Young people, who have worked in the Adolescents Project with UNICEF,   developed messages to promote better dialogue in the family This is one of the main themes of the International Year of the Family. These messages have been adopted this year to address families in Jordan. In these messages, girls and boys are asking their parents to better understand their educational needs.
“They do not want Tawjihi to turn their homes into a state of emergency and they do not want to be reprimanded if they do not achieve the 90 % averages their parents want. They want to be able to speak, discuss and decide with their parents regarding their future and education,” Skatvedt elaborated.
Understanding Young People for Policy Development
Skatvedt explained that “It is important to understand the aspirations of young people as this can help policy makers plan accordingly and attempt to change these aspirations into reality. At the same time, it can also help identify areas where current policy and opportunities may fall short of helping youth achieve their dreams.”
When asked to specify the highest level of education young Jordanians would like to reach, adolescent girls more than boys, at all ages, aspire to a college diploma or a bachelor’s degree. Statistics reveal that as young people grow older, their wish to attend college diminishes for both sexes particularly boys.
UNICEF has been working closely with the Ministry of Education and the Higher Council for Youth to increase adolescents participation in social and public life . Simultaneously, focus has been on addressing adolescents, their parents and service providers such as teachers, youth workers.
“Education is a tool for personal development, change and enhanced citizenship. I hope that the information provided by this fact sheet on youth and education will give an insight into how youth perceive education, and stimulate a debate to improve the scope and quality of adolescent participation in Jordan.” Skatvedt concluded

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JULY 2004

THE NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR CHILDREN MEDIA SECTOR DISCUSSION
(Amman- 15 July 2004) -The National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA), on Thursday, held a round-table to discuss the media theme of the National Plan of Action for Children (NPA). The latter is currently being developed in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Jordan, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Social Development. Chaired by Faisal Shboul, Director General of the Jordan News Agency Petra, the meeting, which is part of a series of meetings organised to revise the NPA, brought together a number of experts in the field of media and communication. The team initially began work in June 2003.
Established in 2001, NCFA is presided by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah and aims to ensure a better quality of life for Jordanian families. It acts as a national policy think-tank, which works to facilitate the development, review and reform of policies, legislation, strategies and guidelines to ensure the appropriate socio-economic, legislative and cultural policy environment supportive of the Jordanian family and its members.

THE IMPACT OF WAVERING A PERSONAL CLAIM IN CASES OF SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN
(Amman- July 2004) Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Izzidin Al Khatib Al Tamimi, Chief of Islamic Justice, a workshop on “Wavering Personal Claim in Cases of Sexually Abused Children” was held on 4 July, 2004. The workshop was organized by the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jordan Office.  The aim of the workshop was to involve judges from Shari’a courts to examine Islamic directives and teachings regarding the issue of wavering the personal claim in cases of sexually abused children.
During the workshop, which came as a result of a roundtable discussion conducted in April 2004 by the NCFA, the Jordanian Woman Union and UNICEF, the Judiciary and concerned parties discussed means of protecting the family, the vulnerable and most of all children.
NCFA is working on reviewing legislation to address the needs of the family and secure its safety and stability.  NCFA implements this task by analysing legislation and demonstrating their positive and negative impact on the family and its members, by adopting a special perspective based on the concepts of rights, responsibility and citizenship. The principles of the Jordanian Constitution, the Islamic directives, and human rights are all incorporated as indicators of measurement and analysis. 
Mother and Child Education Foundation Representative Visits NCFA and UNICEF
(Amman- 28 July 2004) – With the aim of exploring areas of cooperation in the field of Early Childhood Care and Development and building on the success of the Jordanian experience in this area,  the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received on Monday (26 July, 2004) Ayla Goksel , a representative from the Mother Child Education Foundation in Turkey.
The Turkish  programme aims at raising the awareness of parents in child development, enhancing their parenting skills and providing them with information and tools to assist them in their children’s physical, mental, cognitive and social growth and development. The NCFA and UNICEF are exploring possibilities of cooperating with the Turkish Mother Child Education Foundation specifically in the cognitive training sphere: This include developing and focusing on activities which promote the mental development of pre-kindergarten children at home.
The Turkish Mother Child Programme mechanism for implementation was discussed, in addition to the Better Parenting Programme currently being implemented by UNICEF and its 16 national partners.  The common factors between both programmes were also deliberated.
Several assessment studies have indicated that children, whose mothers had enrolled in the Better Parenting Programme, possessed a greater readiness for school, in terms of their academic performance and social development. Simultaneously, the relationship of mothers with their husbands, children and families improved significantly.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Turkish programme is currently being implemented in Germany, France, Belgium and Holland, along with Turkish immigrant families, as well as in Bahrain.
Established in 2001, NCFA, a civil institution, is presided by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah and aims to ensure a better quality of life for Jordanian families. Its tasks include coordinating and supporting the efforts of civil society organizations in the public and private sectors. In line with Her Majesty Queen Rania’s directives, the Council is currently developing a national plan of action for children.
Roundtable Discussion on the Draft Execution Law for Personal Status Matters
(Amman- 27 July 2004) –As part of its role in developing family-based legislation and laws that reflect the needs of the family and its members, the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA), in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), held a roundtable discussion on the “Draft Execution Law for Personal Status Matters”, on Tuesday ( 27 July, 2004) at the Grand Hyatt Amman Hotel.
The meeting included a number of parliamentarians and experts in the field, as well as members of the Judiciary in Sharia Courts and Regular Courts.
Given the draft law’s tremendous effect on personal status matters concerning the family and its members, which affects their security and stability, experts in the field came up with recommendations.
 
Health Workers from Jordan, Syria and Palestine Graduate in Adolescent Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Awareness
Amman (25 July, 2004) - The first subregional  workshop on adolescent health will conclude today   with a  graduation ceremony  partonised by Dr. Ali Ass’ad ,Assistant  Secretary General for Primary  Health Care, at the Regency Hotel  at 18:00.  The nine-day meeting, organised by the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) brought together 27 staff from the Ministry of Health in Jordan, the Ministry of Education, and the Higher Council for Youth and non-governmental organisations from Jordan, Syria, and Palestine.
The Subregional Training of Trainers Workshop
This workshop aimed to sensitize participants in the importance of addressing young people with reproductive health issues, including HIV/AIDS prevention. Through this training, health workers were trained on working with peer educators when dealing with sensitive issues of importance to adolescents.
This is the third in a series of workshops which started in December last year to train health educators and young people (12-18 years) on a manual on reproductive health awareness and HIV/AIDS prevention. The aim is to have young people use this manual with others their age both in and out of school-The other two workshops were held for Jordanian participants.
The Manual 
The Ministry of Health and UNICEF’s Adolescents Project in Jordan produced this manual with the aim of having young people use it to train others their age. Adult trainers   are to provide adolescents with any support they may need, and hence this is why both adults and youth are participants in these workshops.
The manual was developed with young people themselves and targets specific age groups (pre-puberty, puberty, post-puberty). It addresses both boys and girls and provides them with important information on reproductive health. It also tackles the physical, physiological, and emotional development of young people and provides them with facts they need on nutrition and hygiene, for instance.
The manual was introduced at the regional level through the implementation of this sub- regional workshop. The material used for the workshops included the manual in addition to materials from the United Nations Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation  (UNESCO). In August, young people will start training others their age in reproductive health in all parts of the Kingdom next.

Jordan Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week on Monday
Amman (29 July, 2004)- World Breastfeeding Week will be celebrated in Jordan on Monday (2 August, 2004) at the Marriott Amman Hotel with the participation of the Minister of Health, Saeed Darwazeh,  the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Ahmad Hilayel, and in cooperation with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). The theme this year is “Exclusive Breastfeeding: The Gold Standard Safe, Sound,  Sustainable.”
Exclusive Breastfeeding
The slogan for this year’s celebration aims at making the needed distinction between breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding. The motto is “Exclusive Breastfeeding: The Gold Standard Safe, Sound, Sustainable.”
Exclusive breastfeeding for six months means that a mother does just that: She breastfeeds her baby without additional powder milk supplements, food or water. Mother’s milk contains all the water and nutrients a baby needs during the first six months of life.
Safe
Exclusive breastfeeding is safe because it prevents and fights infections in babies such as diarrhoea and pneumonia and reduces the risk of allergic reactions, especially asthma. In many parts of the world, approximately 25 percent of children who die and are under five years of age, die because of diarrhoeal diseases mainly caused from   contaminated water. In these countries breastfeeding would save lives.
Sound
Exclusive breastfeeding is sound because it contains nutrients in the right quantity and quality. In Jordan, and according to the Population and Family Health Survey 2002, almost one in four children under two months of age receives infant formula and nine per cent are given other liquids. This introduction of food and liquids is earlier than the recommended age of six months.
Sustainable
Exclusive breastfeeding is sustainable because it helps a household’s food security. As long as the mother is there, breast milk is available and she should feed her child based upon supply and demand: The more she breastfeeds, the more milk she will produce. A baby who is fed food and liquids other than breast milk will be less hungry and thus breastfeed less. A mother in this case will produce less milk. According to Population and Family Health Survey, female children in Jordan are breastfed slightly longer than male children. Also, mothers
with elementary education and higher, breastfeed their babies for a shorter time than uneducated mothers.

Breastfeeding in Jordan
In Jordan, only 27 per cent of women actually breastfeed exclusively for six months though there are high initiation rates-this is less than the global percentage which stands at 39%.
The baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which was supported by UNICEF, has promoted breastfeeding. However, only four hospitals so far have joined this initiative. A hospital is designated “Baby Friendly” when it implements the 10 steps to support breastfeeding and has taken measures not to accept free low-cost breast milk substitutes, feeding bottles and teats.
In Jordan, there have been many other initiatives to promote breastfeeding. The Ministry of Health has been supporting breastfeeding in Primary Health Centres and government hospitals. Since 2002, ten Mother and Child Health Centres have been made “child friendly”: These Centres have worked on raising the level of awareness of mothers about the importance of breastfeeding starting from the few seconds of a baby’s life. Health personnel have also received necessary training in providing mothers with the necessary help to ensure successful breastfeeding. “Mother-to-Mother” focus group discussions are also held at these Centres to help mothers breastfeed and in implement the 10 golden steps to support breastfeeding.
In order for a mother to be able to exclusively breastfeed her baby she needs all the support and information she can get from her family, community, and society. Doctors are thus encouraged to support mothers to breastfeed exclusively and avoid the easy way out of using baby powder milk. More hospitals as well should adopt the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.

The Way Forward
The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding launched by UNICEF and WHO in 2002 calls on all governments and concerned parties to “protect, promote and support exclusive breasfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond, while providing women access to the support they require-in the family, the community and the workplace-to achieve this goal.”
The Best Start in Life
Children must get the best possible start in life. Investing in children and their mothers lays the  cornerstone for a healthy society and a healthy generation.

Sudanese Police receive first ever training on assisting child victims of sexual violence
Khartoum/Geneva/New York, 23 July 2004 – Amidst widespread reports of sexual violence and rape of women and children in Darfur, UNICEF today concluded a three day training of Sudanese police officers designed to assist them in investigating cases of rape of children.  This initiative is the first of its kind and aims to sensitize police and other law enforcement officials on how to interview children who have endured sexual violence.
During her recent visit to Sudan, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy heard testimonies of children and women who have been victims of rape and other forms of violence. Countless children recounted the same horrifying story – almost always including rape and sexual violence, villages burned, parents killed and entire communities forced to flee their homes. 
The rape of women and children has a devastating impact on entire communities.  Women and girls are often raped in conflict situations as form of torture and to instill shame and fear within the community.   For many girls and women, sexual violence is a culmination of a series of assaults on their dignity.  They have often lost all aspects of their protective environment – with family members killed before their eyes with complete impunity, siblings and mothers raped and entire families displaced.   
“The training of police officers is a first step in the right direction because only well trained personnel should interview children who have been raped or sexually abused” said Bellamy.  “While insecurity is still rampant in Darfur, the Government of Sudan has a responsibility to protect its women and girls from the extraordinary brutality they have endured for far too long. Rape is not inevitable in war time:  it is a crime and perpetrators must be held accountable.”
Sudan’s Minister of the Interior, Major-General Abdul Rahim Mohammed Hussein, and Cecilio Adorna, Acting UNICEF Representative in Sudan, opened the three day training session at the Police Training Academy at Rabat University in Khartoum.  Two experienced Jordanian police officers --one man and one woman -- took part in the training of their Sudanese counterparts.
Background information:
The Jordanian Police have developed expertise unique in the region in assisting child victims of sexual abuse and other forms of violence. 
In the next few months, the Jordanian police and UNICEF will assist the Government of Sudan in the training of all Sudanese police officers in Darfur, with special attention to the training of police women.
The humanitarian appeal for Sudan is still under funded – $19 million have been committed to the $40 million appeal. 
 
The National Plan of Action for Children
Monitoring and Evaluation Sector Discussion
(Amman- 29 July 2004) –In preparation for the launching of the National Plan of Action for Children (NPA), the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Jordan, on Thursday, held a round-table discussion on the monitoring and evaluation theme of the NPA. The latter is currently being developed in cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Social Development, along with various entities concerned with childhood affairs in order to ensure the contributions of all relevant parties in the drafting process.
Chaired by NCFA Vice-President and Secretary-General, Dr. Rowaida Al-Maaitah, who stressed the importance of this theme, the meeting brought together a number of experts in the field.
Established in 2001, NCFA is presided by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah and aims to ensure a better quality of life for Jordanian families.
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AUGUST 2004

Juvenile Justice and Combating Child Abuse Workshop for Social Workers
Amman (16 August, 2004) - With the aim of training social workers in dealing with children (7-18 years) in  cases of  juvenile offences, a three-day  workshop was launched today under the patronage of the  Minister of Social Development Riyad Abu Karaki and in the presence of the Director of Public Security, General Tahseen Shurdum. This is the last in a series of six training sessions held for the police from all parts of the Kingdom and social workers. All workshops were held in cooperation with the Family Protection Department (FPD) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Jordan.
“We all need to deal with the problem (juvenile offences) from different angles, in a comprehensive manner to understand the reasons behind these offences and take necessary action,” said the Minister of Social Development adding that “the best means of doing this is by developing the knowledge, skills and the approach used by social workers, and all those working with juvenile offenders.”
 In Jordan, the advanced multidisciplinary approach to working and finding the best means of rehabilitating children in conflict with the law has been achieved through the combined effort of the Ministry of Social Development, the FPD and UNICEF. One such breakthrough is that now young offenders are no longer brought into contact with their adult counterparts as this had a negative influence on young juveniles. The latter’s detention should come as a last resort and for the shortest period possible.
“We at the Family Protection Department, felt that our training programme in this area would be incomplete without the training of the social workers who deal  with abused women and  children , and juveniles,” said Colonel  Fadel Hmoud,  FPD Director.

UNICEF Representative in Jordan, Anne Skatvedt commended the work of the FPD and said that “ In Jordan, we take pride in the work of  the Family Protection Department, which has become a regional model in dealing with cases of child abuse and the like, it has enhanced the country’s commitment and contribution to the protection of children and women.” Skatvedt also noted that in July this year, two Jordanian police officers (one male and one female) trained their Sudanese counterparts in dealing with abused children in Darfur. “This is an experience which will be built on and encouraged.”
UNICEF, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), believes that juvenile justice should provide rehabilitation, education and training to assist young detainees to build a life for themselves when they are released. Article 40 of the CRC recognises the right of every child (in conflict with the law) to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child’s sense of dignity and worth.
Working with juvenile law offenders is governed by several international instruments: The CRC, along with the Beijing Rules (the 1995 United Nations standard minimum rules for the administration of juvenile justice) and the Riyadh Guidelines (the 1990 United Nations guidelines for the prevention of juvenile delinquency). These international tools call for the adoption of child friendly systems which recognise the child as a subject of fundamental rights and freedoms and stresse the need for all actions concerning children to be guided by the best interests of the child as a primary consideration.

Integrating Life Skills in the Jordanian Educational Curricula
Amman (19 August, 2004) -With the aim of integrating basic life skills in the Jordanian school curricula, 30  members of the Curriculum Department at the Ministry of Education will be participating in a workshop on Sunday at  9:00 a.m at  Le Royal Hotel.
The three-day meeting is held under the patronage of Tayseer Nahar, Ministry of Education Secretary General, in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Participants will be exposed to various sessions about basic life skills including ones on self-awareness, critical and creative thinking, and problem solving-themes which adolescents in Jordan have been working on for the past three years.

Basic Life Skills help adolescents to better understand themselves, communicate with each other, and “negotiate” with their parents. These skills and more have been introduced to 15,000 young people, in Jordan, aged 12-18 years in government schools, and as part of extracurricular activities.
To ensure the sustainability of such skills, UNICEF has worked together with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to promote healthy behaviour through the knowledge gained in basic life skills: For example, smoking, which is a major health hazard among adolescents in Jordan, is being tackled through communication and negotiation skills. Young people who have gained knowledge, better communication and negotiation skills, can now use these skills to convince others their age not to smoke.
Based on the encouraging results of the introduction of life skills in extracurricular activities at schools, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF are currently working  on integrating  life skills in the educational curricula rather than just having  them as part of  extracurricular activities.
Adolescent development is a process of mental, physical, social and emotional growth. In order to better prepare young people to be active citizens in their society, such skills are needed.  Life skills are basic components of Educational Reform for Knowledge Economy (ERfKE) project, which the Ministry of Education is implementing. The Kingdom is focusing on building a knowledge based economy by transforming education to ensure the creation of job opportunities for graduates and that prepare students to compete in the global economy.
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SEPTEMBER 2004

The Results of the National Survey on Micronutrient Deficiencies in Children and Women in Jordan
Amman (14 September, 2004)- The rate of anemia among women in the childbearing age in Jordan is  32% and its rate among children is 20%. These results and more are highlighted in the National Survey on Micronutrient Deficiencies in Pre-School Children and Women in the Childbearing Age in Jordan was launched at a one day seminar under the patronage of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health Sa’ed Kharabsheh on Wednesday (15 September, 2004)  at the Grand Hyatt Amman Hotel at 10:00 a.m. The seminar was organised by the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jordan Office.
The study was conducted by the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO). It highlights the importance of the regular monitoring of the status of micronutrients in young children under five years  and women in the childbearing age (15- 49 years) in Jordan.   The main objectives of the study were:
1. To estimate the prevalance of anemia and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among women of children bearing age and pre-school children.
2. To measure the knowledge about anemia among women of child bearing age.
3. To estimate the prevalance of vitamin A deficiency among pre-school children.
Micronutrients are essential for providing the best start of life for children as the first years of a child’s life form the building blocks of her/his future.  The rate of anemia among children under five in Jordan is 20%, and 15% suffer from vitamin A deficiency. The study also found that 60% of the commonly consumted bread in Jordan was fortified with iron.  Prevention of micronutrient deficiencies enhances human development and economic well being.  Studies have found that iodine supplementation improves the learning capacity of schoolchildren and reduces the costs of curative medicine.
In Jordan, the Ministry of health, UNICEF and WHO embarked on a flour fortification campaign in 2002. As a result bread has been fortified with iron and other micro-nutrients such as vitamin A.  Based on the this recently introduced programme, and the foreseen need to carry out a future evaluation of its impact, it was decided to obtain quality baseline epidemiological information on the prevalance of anemia and iron deficiency anemia from this study. 
Flour fortification came as a follow up to the recommendations of the Jordanian National Plan of Action for Nutrition for the year 1996 developed in the International
Conference on Nutrition in 1992.   Based on the recommendations of the survey, the Ministry of Health has already embarked on a number of follow up actions, more recommendations will be discussed in the seminar.

Starwood & UNICEF Take On A New Challenge Mahmoud Kabil to Participate in Fundraising Dinner in Support of UNICEF
Amman, Jordan, 15 September 2004- As part of the Check Out for Children Challenge and global alliance between Starwood Hotels and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)- the Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel & Towers will host a fundraising charity dinner on Saturday 18 September 2004. Participants inclulde Mahmoud Kabil, UNICEF Goodwill  Ambassador, famous Arab Musician, Ilham Al-Madfai, and DJ Rula Malki who have volunteered their time and effort to make this event a success.
A press conference will be held on  Wednesday (15 September, 2004)  at 12:00 at the Sheraton Hotel where guest of Honor, Mr. Kabil,  will be briefing  the press  about this important event.
The aim behind this event is to raise money to help UNICEF.  A core component of UNICEF’s mission is to mobilise resources towards a “first call for children.”  Therefore, UNICEF forges alliances with partners that share its vision to fund development programs. This partnership plays a vital role in the realization of the rights of children and women by providing necessary financial support.
UNICEF in Jordan focuses its work on early childhood care and development, protection, adolescents, community development, advocacy and the monitoring of rights. UNICEF also implements and fundraises for a programme for Palestinian children in Jordan. Half of the funds raised at this event will go in support of UNICEF’s work in Jordan.
“We are hoping to raise enough money from this event to help the children and women of Jordan as well as the children of Gabon,” says Jan Kirstein, General Manager of the Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel & Towers.
The remaining funds will be used by UNICEF globally to immunize nearly 800,000 children in Gabon, in Central Africa, against the child-killer measles this November. UNICEF and its partners in Gabon aim to immunise every child in the country between the ages of nine months and 14 in this campaign against measles – a disease which kills hundreds of thousands of children every year. Furthermore, all children under five years will be given Vitamin A at the same time, to help boost their immune systems and fight off infection.
The children in Gabon will be immunized by UNICEF and its partners during a National Immunization Day, a nationwide campaign to immunize all children in the country within a period of one or two days.  It costs only 60 cents to immunize a child against measles
Staff at Starwood hotels across Europe, Africa and the Middle East are aiming to raise a minimum of US$250,000 for the immunization campaign through a series of sports related activities.
The dinner will include a quiz hosted by Rula Malki, raffle and many more surprises. “We are very proud to have helped reach the $10 million milestone through the ongoing Check Out for Children campaign,” says General Manager Jan Kirstein. “Now we are hoping to give it an extra boost through the charity dinner”.
Kirstein also adds that “The involvement and sponsorship of the private sector in general, and Aramex, Petra Travel & Tourism Company, Abu Shakra and Pyramid Ghrapics in particular, clearly demonstrates that the well being of children is everybody’s business”.
The Check Out for Children programme – which encourages guests to make a US$1 donation to UNICEF as they check out of the Sheraton hotel – was launched in 1995. The money is used to support UNICEF’s lifesaving immunization work and for each US$1 million raised, more than 55,000 children can be immunized against the six major childhood diseases.
“It is thanks to the dedication and motivation of Starwood employees that we have been able to raise such an impressive sum for UNICEF”, said Roeland Vos, President, Europe, Africa and Middle East Division, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.,. “I am delighted that we are able to rise to the new Challenge of raising funds to save the lives of children in Gabon and Jordan.”

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OCTOBER 2004

Draft Childhood Act
Amman (6 October, 2004) - With the aim of advocating for the Draft Childhood Act, currently on the  Parliament’s agenda , a roundtable discussion was held on Thursday (7 October, 2004). This meeting was organised by the National Council for Family Affairs and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Jordan.

Chief of the Islamic Justice, Sharia judges, members of parliament, including senators and members of the Lower House, the judiciary, the head of the legislative bureau, and human rights advocates had stressed the importance of Parliament adopting the Childhood Act.

The Act represents Jordan's effort to harmonise its legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  It also emphasizes the child’s right to participate and to be heard. Thus, the Draft Law focuses on protecting the rights of the child and ensures that children are protected against abuse and neglect.

In addition, the Draft Law calls for raising the age of criminal responsibility from 7 to 10 years. The draft law also holds child care providers, such as teachers and parents, responsible if they witness a child being abused and do not report it.

Jordan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991 declaring its commitment to upholding children’s rights.  Article 4 of the Convention stipulates that: “States Parties shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognised in the present Convention.”

Since the ratification of the Convention, the Kingdom has embarked on a process of legislative change. Although many laws have been changed and been amended, the process has neither been systematic nor comprehensive. There is a need for a law that guarantees for children all their rights based on the principles highlighted in the Convention. The Draft Childhood Act encompasses all rights and principles. It takes into consideration the best interests of the child such as in decision making, the right to participate, non-discrimination, and the right to be protected against violence, neglect, and abuse. 

These rights are an integral part of Islam which cherishes a child starting with the right to life, the right to health, nutrition, education and non-discrimination. 

Jordan Launches its National Plan of Action for Children
Amman (18 October,2004) - The Jordanian National Plan of Action for Children for the years (2004-2013)will be launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania on Monday (25 October, 2004).

The plan is Jordan’s blue print for the coming ten years in fields related to childhood: Health, education, protection, media, and monitoring.  It builds on the achievements of the previous National Plan of Action (1993-2000), and “A World Fit for Children” declaration, which is a framework for children and young people with set goals- The Kingdom singed this document in 2002 at the United Nations Special Session on Children and was among the 190 States who committed their governments to this declaration and promised to work on their own national plans for children.

Jordan’s National Plan is also based on the Arab Plan of Action for Children endorsed at the   Third Arab Congress on Child's Rights in Tunisia this year.

The Jordanian National Plan of Action for Children has been developed by more than 200 experts working for and with children in the Country. For over a year now, ministries, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector worked on drafting, reviewing, discussing, and agreeing on the final Plan of Action. The process was spearheaded by the National Council for Family Affairs, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  

Jordan’s  National Plan is  in line with  the commitments the Kingdom made to   the  national strategy and plan of action for  Early Childhood and Development , the child labour strategy, the draft youth strategy and recommendations of the study on disadvantaged children.

The Jordanian National Plan of Action for Children is about a commitment to work together for a Jordan “fit for children.”

UNICEF Receives Cheque from Sheraton Hotel
The General Manager of the Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel & Towers, Jan Kirstein, presented a cheque of JD 4,572 to Anne Skatvedt, UNICEF Representative in Jordan in the presence of Maysoun Kayyali, Sheraton "Check Out for Children" Ambassador  on Tuesday (18 October, 2004). This money was raised from a fundraising dinner held by the hotel for UNICEF last month. The activity is part of a global alliance between Starwood Hotels and UNICEF. At the dinner, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Mahmoud Kabil, called upon the private sector to generate funds for children and women. Famous Arab Musician Ilahm Madfa'i also participated in this event.
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