Family protection department inaugurates children, women facilities in Northern Amman

AMMAN — The Family Protection and Juvenile Department, in partnership with UNICEF, on Saturday inaugurated new dedicated facilities for children and women. 

The new facilities were launched in the presence of Director of the Family Protection and Juvenile Department Brig. Gen. Ziad Nsour and UNICEF Representative to Jordan Philippe Duamelle. 

The Child and Woman-Friendly Facilities, include interview rooms and identification units for victims and witnesses of crime. 

The interview rooms ensure that the emotional and psychological well-being of survivors is better protected, when the identification units provides a safe way for victims and witnesses to identify perpetrators without a direct confrontation, shielding them from further distress, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

Nsour highlighted the department’s longstanding strategic partnership with UNICEF since the department’s establishment. 

He stressed UNICEF’s continuous support across various areas, including infrastructure development, training, technical assistance, and efforts to enhance the work environment, ultimately ensuring better services for children and women.

He also noted that the newly inaugurated facilities prioritise the privacy and specific needs of women and children, ensuring the provision of services in a more humane and effective manner.

Duamelle said that for many children and women around the world, the process of seeking protection can be terribly distressing. 

Repetitive questioning, intimidating environments and a lack of specialised support, can generate another traumatic moment and discourage them from seeking support. The Child and Woman-Friendly Facilities, including interview rooms and identification units for victims and witnesses of crime, that are open today is a concrete effort to address this issue. 

He added that the department now operates as a ‘One-Stop Centre’, bringing together medical, legal, social, and psychological support services under one roof.

This integrated and survivor-centred approach ensures that victims and witnesses of crime receive the assistance they need in a more protective and timely manner.

He highlighted that this was made possible through a partnership between the department, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health and UNICEF.

This initiative underscores the commitment of the department and UNICEF to providing essential care and support for children and women, including the provision of multiple support services under one roof contributing to a safer and more conducive environment to receive and support women and children, according to the statement.