The UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, has asked the Jordanian government to strengthen the country’s legislation against trafficking and improve conditions for vulnerable groups such as migrant women and children. The Special Rapporteur, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, praised the country’s “commitment” to combat trafficking and acknowledged “the enormous challenges related to the mass influx of Syrian refugees.” However, she said greater efforts are needed to address trafficking in women and children for labor, particularly domestic servitude, as well as for sexual exploitation and forced marriage. The Rapporteur recommended that the Jordanian government adopt a clear legal definition of trafficking, provide greater protection and support for victims, and ensure safety and employment for at risk groups like refugee women and children.
The Special Rapporteur issued her statement after completing her first fact-finding mission to Jordan. She expects to submit her final report on Jordan to the UN Human Rights Council in June.
Compiled from: Jordan: UN rights expert calls for prevention of human trafficking by improving working conditions for Jordanians, migrants, and refugees, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (4 February 2016).