NCFA to draft a child rights law
02-05-2017
Deputizing for the Speaker of the House of Representatives Eng. Atef At-Tarawneh, the first House-Deputy Eng. Khamis Atiyah attended a workshop organized by NCFA on "The drafting methodology of the child rights law" with the participation of representatives from relevant governmental and non-governmental institutions.
During the workshop, Atiyeh said that protecting the child is the first step to building a flawless society; having a legislation that protects the rights of the child is a key step in immunizing families against the inconsistencies of modernity and openness when they are not backed by traditions and positives social norms.
"The Eightieth House of Representatives gives full support to all national institutions to strengthen their sense of responsibilities through the adoption of relevant legislation that reflects the best interests of citizens aspiring for a safer future for them and their children. The House is committed to working with everyone to attain goals with the required speed and accuracy," added Atiyeh reiterating the House's commitment to its public duties through positive legislative performance.
According to NCFA Secretary-General Fadel Al-Hmoud, the workshop seeks to determine the main methodology that will be adopted during the drafting of the child rights bill in implementation of the recommendation of the national workshop held during February 2015 and attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Participants agreed then on the need to adopt a law that is centered on child rights.
Al-Hmoud added that taking care of children and their rights is a shared responsibility, and as such the early childhood phase has been at the center of NCFA's focus in line with HM Queen Rania Al-Abdullah's directives (Chairperson of NCFA Board of Trustees), noting that today's meeting is a vital complement to the work exerted by NCFA and its governmental and non-governmental partners to enhance the level of services provided for the Jordanian Child.
On her part, the Deputy UNICEF Representative Ete Hagen said that new draft law is to prepare the ground for a contemporary national law that includes child-centered legislation which guarantees the rights of every child and ensures that there are no overlaps or duplicity, noting that societies sometimes have views that are contradictory to child rights. Hagen commended Jordan's leading work in the realization of children's rights and welfare.
It is to be noted that the compelling reasons for the new law reflect the constitutional amendments of 2011 which added item 5 to Article (6) of the constitutions which stipulates that "The law shall protect motherhood, childhood and the old aged, and shall avail care for the youngsters and those with disabilities and protect them from abuse and exploitation". Jordan is a signatory country to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991 pursuant to the Convention on the Rights of the Child Ratification
