Public Opinion is Clear: Urgent Legislation Required to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation! Read the story

Members

The Jordan River Foundation (JRF) works to protect the rights and needs of children and to contribute to healthier, self-reliant and aspiring communities. With the vision and support of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, JRF has successfully established itself as a pioneer in building an Arab Child Safety Model.

Jordan River Foundation

Contact: Shatha Habahbe
Phone: +962 6 5933211
Address: Masoud Ben Saad Street, Amman
Email: info@jrf.org.jo
Website: http://www.jordanriver.jo

Facts

Jordan is a source, destination and, to a lesser extent, transit country for child victims of trafficking for sexual purposes. Foreign victims largely originate from South Asia, South-East Asia and North Africa and, if transiting through Jordan, they are often trafficked to Europe.

In April 2016, the Jordan Penal Code’s provision that allowed sexual assault perpetrators to avoid punishment if they marry their victims was allegedly repealed. However, the clause still applies if the sexual activity involving girls between 15 and 18 years old was “consensual”.

Approximately 8% of Jordan girls are married before 18 years old and about 32% of marriages among refugee families in Jordan involve a girl under 18.

Resources

ECPAT International
National Workshop Jordan: Uniting to end violence against children in Jordan

Year: 2024

Download
ECPAT International
Jordan – Country Monitoring Report

Year: 2016

ECPAT International
Regional Overview: Sexual Exploitation of Children in Middle East and North Africa

Year: 2020

Stories

News from Jordan

Indicators

Age of Consent

No

The age of sexual consent is 18 years old but only applies to girls, boys are only covered under the provision on “indecent act”. Furthermore the age of sexual consent can be under 18 if if the sex occurs beween a married couple. While marriage is set at 18 years old, the law provides exceptions where children under 16 can also be married under certain circumstances. No close-in-age exemption is provided.

Analysis of country legislation on age of sexual consent, 2024

Extraterritoriality & Extradition

Partial

Active extraterritoriality is provided for all felonies and misdemeanours (all SEC related offences under the Penal Code in articles 292-298 are considered felonies under article 300), committed by Jordanian nationals abroad (be it as perpetrators, accomplices, abettors or aiders), under Article 10.1 of the Penal Code. Active extraterritoriality is also provided for offences committed abroad by foreign nationals residing in Jordan if their extradition is not requested or not granted under Article 10.4 of the Penal Code. Double criminality is not required for proceeding with active extraterritoriality under Article 10. Passive extraterritoriality is not provided under the Penal Code.

The Extradition Act of 1927 establishes general provisions on extradition and refers to a list of extraditable offences under article 2. This list has not been found and therefore it has not been possible to determine if SEC related offences are extraditable offences.

Penal Code, Extradition Act of 1927, 1960 (status as of 2010), 1927 (status as of 1944)

CSAM Definition

Not Yet Assessed

Background Check Required

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National Commitments

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Child Advocacy Centers

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SEC Police Unit

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Protection Standards Travel and Tourism

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Public SEC Case Data

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