Is the government's decision to give civil rights to the children of Jordanian women enough?
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Hotline
The main function of the
hotline is to provide a confidential, non-judgmental environment in which
vulnerable or abused women can freely discuss their problems and receive legal,
social and psychological counselling.
Once
the woman has established contact with the hotline, a team of professionals – a
psychologist, a social worker and/or a lawyer – will assess her needs. The team will then formulate possible solutions
to her problem.
Such
solutions could include family counselling, community interventions, extended
family interventions, legal interventions, and, in the most extreme cases,
referral to the JWU shelter or other emergency services.
Consultations
with the woman can take place at either the hotline branch centre or at the
woman’s home. Regular follow-up sessions
can take place in-person or by telephone.
The
team will continue to monitor the case until a sustainable resolution has been
reached.
Background
A
committee for combating violence against women was established by the JWU in
1994. Its aim was to study the
phenomenon of violence, the nature and extent of violence, and the factors that
contribute to violence.
Experts
attending the committee’s first workshop indicated that the problem of violence
against women and children was indeed extensive and that it was a common
practice in Jordan. The experts also
revealed that the problem of violence against women and children was being completely
ignored due to insufficient legislation, cultural norms, and limited economic
resources.
Furthermore, domestic
violence was considered a ‘family matter’, and any attempt by outsiders to
address the problem was considered as interference in family life. The victims
of violence never complained about their situation and never sought help. Their lack of action was due to their low
status within the family, their ignorance about the legal provisions for their
protection, and a lack of social and psychological support.
The
committee decided to implement a program to combat violence against women. Thus, in February 1995, specialists in the
fields of law, health, psychology and sociology held training courses for
selected JWU volunteers. Responding to
the great need among Jordanian women for legal consultation and psychological
support, the JWU initiated the Hotline Project in 1996.
Established Aims of the Hotline
- To provide female victims of violence with access to
legal, psychological and social aid
- To organize mass media campaigns to publicize the hotline
and to introduce the means available to combat violence
- To follow up specific cases and provide ongoing legal,
health, and psychological counselling
- To contribute to rehabilitation programs by setting up
group support sessions
- To form advocacy groups to promote amendments to laws
that contribute to violence against women
- To conduct research on the different aspects of domestic
violence
- To collect both qualitative and quantitative data that document
violence against women and children
At
the time of its inception in 1996, the hotline processed 168 cases; in 2010,
the hotline processed 1322 case. The
demand for the hotline service continues to increase and JWU hotlines are now
available not only in Amman, but also in Irbid, Ramtha, Madaba, Hiteen Camp,
and Al-Baq’a Camp.
The
hotline continues to evolve in response to the needs of the women who need it
the most.
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