The Family Protection Department stated that it works in 3 main areas, which are “domestic violence, assaults, sexual abuse and juvenile delinquency,” noting that there are 17 field departments throughout the Kingdom and two detachments in the Syrian refugee camps.

The statement added that the department receives reports and complaints of violence and domestic violence, from all government agencies, civil society organizations and public security departments on an ongoing basis.

By the end of August, the number of reports received in this regard reached 37,000, including 20 family murders, resulting in the deaths of 22 victims (12 female and 10 male), who were both adults and children.

97 complaints were made reporting violence against the elderly.

Violence against mothers increased from 1.8 percent in 2019 to 2.45 percent in 2020, and it reached 2.5 percent from the start of 2021 until the end of August.

The rate of violence against wives by the end of August was 77.8 percent, and violence against sisters reached 3.3 percent.

The average conviction rate in rape complaints during the past four years was 42 percent. It was the highest in 2020, reaching 58 percent.

The average conviction rate in indecent assault complaints during the past four years was 45 percent. It was the highest in 2020, at 67 percent.

The Department created a Follow-up and Settlement Division, and expanded the work process automation system and the social and health follow-up system and contributed to the development of legislation, policies and practices, and adopted many forms of cooperation and follow-up within the family protection work system in Jordanian society.

According to the statement, the national framework for protection from domestic violence was adopted as one of the pillars of the Strategic Security Directorate plan, and the adoption of the priority plan prepared by the Ministerial Committee for Women Empowerment.

The Department adopted a well-studied awareness plan to educate all segments of society on their social media platforms where awareness lectures are held on matters such as domestic and gender-based violence, juvenile delinquency, cyber-bullying as well as methods of prevention and its consequences.

On the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Non-Violence which is held on Oct. 2 of each year, the department explained that all institutions and concerned parties are cooperating to combat this scourge, in fear of its danger and its psychological, social and economic effects on the individual and society as a whole.

The Secretary-General of the National Council for Family Affairs, Muhammad Miqdadi, said that the council is working with a participatory approach in strengthening the protection from violence within families, indicating that procedural manuals have recently been prepared for the Ministry of Health, Education, the Interior and the Family Protection Department, to provide comprehensive, integrated and good quality services for all cases of violence, including, gender-based, domestic violence and the protection of children.

He pointed out that these guides were prepared in partnership with institutions including UNICEF, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Population Fund.

Meqdadi also mentioned the plan of national priorities for strengthening the system of protection from gender-based violence, domestic violence and child protection for the years (2021-2023), which was recently approved by the Prime Minister, as it aims to reach many sectors in society.

According to the Secretary-General, Jordan joined this year, through the council, the ‘global initiative to end violence against children,’ explaining that through this membership, opportunities will be provided for exchanging experiences and knowledge. In addition to strengthening capacities at the national level in the field of ending violence against children and benefiting from all the advantages available within the partnership, and to improve the funding opportunities provided by the Global Partnership and Fund to End Violence Against Children.

Meanwhile, Professor of Psychological Counseling at Yarmouk University, Rami Tashtoush, said that there are many measures that can be taken to end violence, including correcting misconceptions and raising awareness through clerics, the media, and local community organizations.

Tashtoush called for coordination between the local and the international institutions in order to address the phenomena of domestic violence, and to provide care and multiple services in sectors, including health, psychological, social as well as providing legal support for survivors of violence.

Additionally, Professor of Educational Psychology, Ahmed Al-Zeq, noted that some families condone violent behavior when it manifests in their children, and that there are families that reinforce it with their sons, in particular.

He said that the most prominent psychological and educational reasons that lead to the emergence of violence in children, adolescents and youth, are "imitation behaviour", as children and adolescents tend to imitate others around them, whether in their social environment or through the media.

In addition to frustration, wherein the adolescent's feeling of frustration and failure, leads to the emergence and prevalence of violent responses during their interactions with others as well as a feeling of inferiority and low self-esteem.

He added, that the family must protect children from developing this type of behavior by teaching them the appropriate one, so that the child will realize that they can achieve what they want without resorting to abuse and violence, and by appreciating and respecting children as well as providing appropriate opportunities for success, excellence, and a sense of acceptance by others.