Jordan Times
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Social workers receive training on juvenile justice, combating child abuse
AMMAN (JT) — A three-day workshop was launched yesterday to train social workers in dealing with children aged 7-18 years in cases of juvenile offences, according to a statement released by UNICEF.
The workshop, held under the patronage of
Minister of Social Development Riyad Abu Karaki and in the presence of Director
of Public Security Department General Tahseen Shurdum, is the last in a series
of six training sessions held for social workers and police from all parts of
the Kingdom.
All the workshops were held in cooperation with the Family Protection Department
(FPD) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Jordan, the statement
said.
“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,” Abu Karaki said, 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.”
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 efforts of the Social Development Ministry, the FPD and UNICEF.
One such breakthrough is that young offenders are now 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, according to the statement.
“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 juvenile offenders,” said FPD Director
Col. Fadel Hmoud.
UNICEF Representative in Jordan Anne Skatvedt commended the work of the FPD,
saying: “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,” she said.
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 UN standard minimum
rules for the administration of juvenile justice) and the Riyadh Guidelines (the
1990 UN 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 stress
the need for all actions concerning children to be guided by the best interests
of the child as a primary consideration.