Today, Sunday, marks the International Day of the Girl, which falls on October 11 of each year. Commemorated this year under the theme “My Voice, our Equal Future”, this day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges faced by girls, and raise awareness of the importance of empowering girls and securing their human rights. According to population estimates for 2019, Children comprise 40% of Jordan’s population, including 39% males and 41.5% females.
HPC Secretary General, Dr. Abla Amawi, said in a special press release on this occasion that girls are among the most vulnerable groups of children in Jordan and face numerous barriers that prevent them from realizing their full potentials. Amawi pointed out that while statistics indicate an increase in the percentage of girls enrolled in education compared to their male counterparts, girls still face many challenges that prevent them from reaching the necessary mental, social and intellectual development to enable them to become active citizens in society in the future. Some of these challenges include high dropout rates from school among girls, compared to boys (0.4% and 0.36% respectively. The dropuout rate reaches its peak of 0.87% when girls are in the 10th grade as they leave school to stay at home or marry early. Registered child marriages in Jordan represent 11.6% out of total marriages in 2018.
Amawi stressed that child marriage is a form of gender-based violence against girls and leads to long-term physical, sexual and psychological harm. The Population and Family Health Survey in Jordan (2017-2018) indicates that married girls (aged 15-19) are at the most vulnerable to physical violence (24.9%) compared to married women within the older age groups. They are also more accepting of a husband beating his wife (62.5%), and are less inclined to take certain decisions by themselves related to healthcare and the economic and social choices affecting the household (66.3%). The survey also revealed that mothers in this age group (43.1%) suffer anemia, which has harmful implications on them and their newborns.
Amawi warned that male and female adolescents with disabilities are at a higher risk of suffering from emotional distress compared to their peers who do not have disabilities. Amawi explained that 41% of persons with disabilities in Jordan are females, and girls with disabilities are the least likely to finish school and university education compared to their male counterparts, while (4.8%) of females with disabilities (aged 15 and above) are economically active.
Amawi further said that during the current circumstances, Covid-19 has widened the gaps that women and girls experience today. During emergencies, and when resources and organizational capabilities are limited and strained, women and girls suffer intense consequences with long-term impact. These consequences intensify even more in the context of fragility, conflict and emergencies, as we have witnessed these days a higher rate of violence against women since the lockdown by up to 30% in several countries around the world.
HPC explained that the refugee crisis heightens risks faced by children and adolescents, especially girls, as many Syrian girl refugees have lost their homes and witnessed, or experienced, conditions of poverty. They are also more exposed to violence, exploitation, child labor and marginalization by their families, many of whom tend to marry off their daughters at an early age due to the circumstances.
HPC added that 86% of Syrian refugees in Jordan live below the poverty line.
Moreover, Syrian labour face more challenges during Covid-19, as 17% have lost their jobs permanently, 70% work in unstable jobs, with their average wage dropping by 40% due to the pandemic. Refugees also face higher health-related risks, with 87% of them do not have health coverage, they resort to marry off girls at an early age to ease the burdens. As per a study conducted by HPC on “Child Marriage in Jordan”, 4 out of 10 married Syrian females were minors.
HPC pointed out that the reality of girls in Jordan is generally not optimistic. While a 16 year old elsewhere has managed to lead a global campaign to mobilize decision makers for climate change issues, our school curricula still reinforce gender stereotypes that women are emotional, incapable of making rational decisions and confined to care-taking, childbearing and limited jobs that match this description.
With respect to parenting approaches, 81% of children experience violent discipline, female adolescents and teenagers do not receive adequate sexual and reproductive care, nor the necessary education and awareness to help them achieve a healthy wellbeing at this critical phase of their physical and psychological development.
HPC added that women’s participation in the labor market stands at only 15%, women cannot reach the parliament without support from the law, and their nationality is still a privilege that cannot be passed on to their children. HPC recommends making investments to end discrimination against girls and removing barriers in the health, nutrition, education and other related areas that prevent girls from reaching their full potential and achieving a brighter future.
