Launch of Jordan's Third Report on Child Rights
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah was presented with Jordan’s Third Report on Child Rights on Monday (18 July, 2005). The ceremony, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was organized by the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Development, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The report highlights Jordan’s work in the fields of early childhood development, protection, and adolescent participation. It is the outcome of a collaborative national effort of 140 experts from governmental and non-governmental organizations. Lawyers, Sharia scholars, psychosocial specialists, and childhood researchers were part of this participatory process. The report is an important monitoring and evaluation tool, and is to be submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Geneva this month. The Committee encompasses 18 members, five of which come from the Middle East and North Africa region.
The Jordanian Government's efforts to protect the rights of the child are reflected in the Report. The latter includes specific reference to proposed legislative amendments pertaining to children, policies, programs and strategies in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The CRC report addresses the closing recommendations made by the CRC Committee in 1998 report when Jordan submitted its second report.
As a partner in developing Jordan's Third Report on Child Rights, the Ministry of Social Development formed a steering committee in June 2003 to head this process. The Ministry provided its administrative and technical expertise in drafting and finalizing the Report.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated among all stakeholders involved in drafting the Report. Acting as the official body mandated to submit the report to the CRC Committee in Geneva, the Ministry provided the different committees with all necessary information about the rights of the child.
UNICEF provided expert advice on the implementation of the Convention and assisted in the monitoring and reporting processes as a means of upholding children's rights. UNICEF works on establishing children's rights as principles and international standards of behavior. The Organisation is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is UNICEF’ framework and action plan.
Under the leadership of Her Majesty Queen Rania, NCFA is mandated to contribute to ensuring a better quality of life for Jordanian families through a national vision that supports the country’s development policies and enables all Jordanian families to achieve their optimal aspirations. Acting as an umbrella organization, NCFA works as a support agency that coordinates and facilitates the work of its partners and relevant institutions, which work for the best interest of the Jordanian family.
