JOR Tdh: My Rights, My Place, My Voice: Inclusive and Sustainable Child Protection and Youth Empowerment

In a region affected by new instability and crisis, Jordan continues to host one of the highest per capita refugee populations globally. The political changes in Syria end 2024 have led to initial returns of refugees but the complex situation in the country prevents the safe returns of large numbers. Refugees put additional strain on the national system in Jordan, a country that faces challenges such as increasing levels of unemployment.

Nearly half of the registered refugees and 40% of the population in Jordan are children. Despite Jordan’s efforts to strengthen its child protection and social welfare systems, the realities of protracted displacement, poverty and limited access to services continue to expose children and families to serious risks. Social and cultural norms, legal barriers and economic challenges have led vulnerable and refugee families in Jordan to resort to negative coping strategies that impact children’s safety and wellbeing including child labour, child marriage, child begging, neglect, exploitation, violence, sexual and gender-based violence. These practices violate children’s rights and expose them to longterm harm.

Outcome 1: Children, youth, and caregivers at risk experience improved protection outcomes through access to quality and child-centred services

Outcome 2: Communities play a stronger role in child protection, and children and youth at risk meaningfully participate in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of child protection services and mechanisms:

Outcome 3: Institutions deliver comprehensive, inclusive, and rights-based protection and justice services that respond effectively to the diverse needs of all children and youth at risk, supported by strengthened capacities and an enabling policy environment.

Risultati principali attesi:  

- Children, youth, and adults receive quality case management services tailored to their protection needs

- Child protection actors engage in structured coordination and collaboration mechanisms that strengthen the local child protection system

- Institutions are supported to design or adapt child- and youth-friendly service delivery protocols, spaces, and outreach materials.

Risultati fasi precedenti:   The previous phase strengthened six community‑based organizations across six governorates and enabled more than 12,000 vulnerable children, youth, and caregivers in camps, host communities, Training and Rehabilitation centres (TRCs), and protection centres to access integrated protection and justice services. It demonstrated the value of locally led interventions, stronger coordination with national authorities, and the effectiveness of restorative justice measures such as Alternative to detention and Aftercare. Key achievements included empowering girls’ and young women’s committees, enhancing the skills of social workers, improving collaboration with judges and the Family Protection and Juvenile Department, and co‑creating a child safeguarding policy for children in contact with the law. These results highlight the importance of deeper institutionalization, stronger local ownership, and more inclusive, context‑tailored approaches in the next phase.

NRC Regional Project: Enhanced legal protection for conflict affected and at-risk persons facing rights violations, violence, coercion and deliberate deprivation in the Middle East region 

UNICEF Small grant: Strengthening Child-Friendly and Survivor-Cantered Justice Services for Syrian Refugees and Vulnerable Jordanians