Dalya Dajani; 22/5/08
A nationwide effort aimed at encouraging greater civic support against domestic violence is making headway, with officials ensuring that communities are aware of their rights and responsibilities. The Ministry of Social Development recently launched the initiative to raise awareness about a new law to protect families from violence, its legal ramifications and social responsibilities as stipulated by the legislation. The Family Protection Law, endorsed by Royal Decree in February and published in the Official Gazette last month, criminalises domestic violence and obliges the public to report actual or suspected cases of abuse to the authorities. Sessions targeting local community leaders and social, educational and health service providers were held in nine governorates, with the most recent completed in Maan and Aqaba, a ministry official told The Jordan Times yesterday.
See: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=8078
Teenager stabbed to death during her wedding
Rana Husseini; 22/5/08
The Karak criminal prosecutor on Thursday charged a 26-year-old man with the premeditated murder of his teenage cousin during her wedding at a Sharia court, official sources said. The 15-year-old victim, who was not identified by officials, was reportedly stabbed several times in the heart and chest, allegedly by her enraged cousin, while standing in front of the judge with another cousin, waiting to get married, the source said. The suspect tried to run away from the court, but was arrested by police, the source added. The victim died instantly of the multiple stab wounds she sustained to her heart, chest and stomach, according to Karak pathologist Iwad Tarawneh. The suspect told investigators that he stabbed his cousin because she refused to marry him and instead chose another cousin, a source close to the investigation said.
See: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=8077
Tags: Human Rights, Jordan, Womens Rights