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Police Training on Dealing  With Cases of Child Abuse

Speech by Anne Skatvedt
UNICEF Representative, Jordan
5 July 2004

Your Excellency Brigadier Issa Ayyoub, Public Security Director Assistant for Judicial Affairs,
Your Excellency Colonel Fadel Al-Hmoud, Head of the Family Protection Department,
Partners from the Police Force,

Jordan’s approach to the management of child abuse cases is multi-disciplinary. There are many commendable achievements made by the country’s leadership, headed by His Majesty King Abdullah II and Queen Rania.  This has made the Kingdom a pioneer in the Middle East in breaking the silence on child abuse and dealing with prevention and treatment.  Here, I would like to commend the leading role of the Public Security Directorate, and particularly, the Family Protection Department, in its progressive approach to the management of child abuse cases in partnership with relevant agencies.

This workshop is the first in a series of six that the Family Protection Department is conducting. The aim is to ensure that legal proceedings are child-friendly and do not victimize the child.  Working with abused children is a very delicate and fragile undertaking. This is why it is so important that every law enforcement officer, social worker, and judge working with abused children should be given the opportunity to build her or his skills when dealing with the most vulnerable in our society.

In many countries as is the case in Jordan, the criminal law gives the right to parents and care givers to use violent forms of punishment. This is often done with the stipulation that such punishment must be “reasonable” or “moderate”, leaving adults, child protection workers, and ultimately judges, to determine what constitutes “reasonable” punishment of children.  Thus, there is a need to amend attitudes and legislation to further the protection of children

The Convention on the Rights of the Child

Here, I would like to refer to something Nelson Mandela, a UNICEF Global leader, said: He said that child abuse, even though less visible than other forms of violence in the world, is more widespread. What makes it even more fatal, is that sometimes the pain suffered by abused children comes from people who should protect them.

Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child obligates ratifying states to

“…take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment,

maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.”

Accordingly, state parties are urged to establish effective systems to monitor the treatment of children and to report and investigate cases of suspected ill treatment also within the family.  Mandatory reporting systems of suspected child abuse and neglect by health and other professionals need to be legally endorsed. If  mistakes occur this has serious implications for both  the child and the family. This is to be supported by the capacity building of professionals working with children to increase their ability to detect symptoms and assess the possibility of ill treatment. This is why we are here today

It is equally important that services should be established for the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of children victims of sexual abuse, neglect, ill treatment, violence or exploitation.

In closing, I would like to commend the Public Security Department for all of its effort in using a multi-disciplinary approach in cases of child abuse and for working with all stakeholders. I would also like to note here the great professionalism exhibited by members of the police force working in the Family Protection Department.  UNICEF is proud to be able to support the police in this important training

Thank you.