Jordan is currently taking essential steps towards breaking the strong taboo regarding sexual abuse and violence within families. The goal is to protect women’s and children’s rights by making families function without violence, and The Family Protection Department (FPD) plays a crucial role.
Since 1997, FPD has been the one-stop-shop for matters relating to family protection. The department has expanded from one office in Amman to now nine units in all the directorates of Jordan. The number of cases the units handle annually has increased seven-fold.So, what has made FPD so successful? And what can other countries, professionals and authorities learn from the Jordanian experiences?