Jordan Times
Thursday, November 8, 2001
Queen discusses child protection programmes with British experts in London
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Wednesday met in London with several British experts specialising in child protection and welfare to exchange experiences in promoting the well-being of young people.
Queen Rania, who is accompanying His Majesty King Abdullah on a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom, visited the London Investigation Service, an undercover unit investigating pedophile activity and crimes against children, in an undisclosed location.
The investigative unit is one of six specialist undercover units of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) — the UK' s leading charity working in the field of child abuse prevention. The units work in partnership with local police to detect, investigate, and prevent organised crimes against children.
With two bases in South East and North London, the London Investigation Service team also provides a support programme for young people and their families who are required to testify as witnesses in the criminal court system.
During the visit, Queen Rania reiterated Jordan's commitment to family safety, and shared the Kingdom's initiatives in this regard, including the establishment in August 2000 of the first child safety centre in the Arab World —Dar Al Aman — which offers temporary protection and rehabilitation to abused children and counsel to their families.
The Queen also heads the National Team for Family Safety, established in March 2000, to safeguard women, and children in particular, from domestic violence and abuse, and to establish a unified national policy on preventing, managing, and treating cases of abuse.
As a result of the Queen's visit Wednesday, Jordanian specialists in child abuse prevention and protection will receive training from the NSPCC.
Also Wednesday, Queen Rania visited the Kids Company, a charitable organisation founded in 1995, which works at the grassroots level to offer support to exceptionally vulnerable children and young people in need of therapeutic and practical help. The Queen, who was briefed on the organisation's work by its founder Camila Batmanghelidjh, toured six “arches” or specialised children's centres that provide a comprehensive care programme for children and youth in need, particularly those who have suffered physical harm.
Providing their services through several specialised sections, the centres aim to enhance the emotional, physical, and psychological health of youth, and to encourage learning and educational skills. The centres, which mostly serve young people from deprived areas representing the most diverse communities in the United Kingdom, also aim to provide child support for teenage parents, and to promote youth self-esteem.
Since she assumed her responsibilities, Queen Rania has maintained her personal interest in activities promoting a better understanding of the needs of young people and the means to address those needs. In this light, she supports initiatives to promote communication and dialogue among young people, and with the nation's decision makers. Queen Rania also chairs the recently-established National Council for Family Affairs, which aims to identify national priorities on family issues and to coordinate all governmental and non-governmental efforts in this regard.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Chair of the British Council, Baroness Helena Kennedy, hosted a lunch in honour of the Queen with leading British women, including members of parliament who focus on human rights and women' s rights.
The Baroness paid tribute to Queen Rania's efforts in bringing the issue of child abuse and child protection to the forefront, adding that the Queen is a “role model” in her work on this issue.
During the lunch, the Queen also praised the work of the British Council in Jordan.
The British Council, which maintains offices in 110 countries and territories, aims to create opportunities for individuals around the world by helping them acquire new knowledge, skills, and qualifications. It undertakes projects covering the arts and literature, education and training, human rights, information exchange and knowledge management, science, engineering, technology, and the environment.