http://www.crin.org/docs/UnityCircleProjectReport-1.pdf

Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq by American-led coalition forces, thousands of Iraqi children and
their families have fled to Jordan. The need for specialised services for this community is clear. In
addition to their many difficult experiences of the war in Iraq, these children and their families face a number of challenges and risks to their well-being, associated with their displacement from their home, communities and country – including economic hardship, discrimination, violence, and the effects of social, cultural and religious isolation.

While there are some wealthy Iraqi families living in West Amman, the majority live in poorer parts of East Amman. Iraqi children and youth in Jordan experience these challenges and risks to their well-being in a range of distinct ways.

To date, international development programming for Iraqi children in Jordan has focused largely on access to education, as well as the provision of basic healthcare and other forms of humanitarian assistance. After the Jordanian government allowed Iraqi children to enter their schools in August 2007, thousands of Iraqi girls and boys registered for the 2007/2008 school year. Non- governmental organisations (NGOs) are now shifting their focus from education to “child protection.”

The Unity Circle Project started in 1997, with the aim of assessing the situation of Iraqi children and families living in Amman through the use of a child-centred participatory approach, and working closely with these children to improve their situation.

Further information

• Iraqi refugee children enrol in Jordan's schools (28 August 2007)
• More information about child rights in Jordan
  

Previous Publication (general) items

• 04/02/2009: FRANCE: Résumé des principales observations et recommandations du rapport de la Défenseure des enfants au CRC
• 01/02/2009: ISRAEL- OPT: Report on the situation of Palestinian detainees in Israeli detention facilities (Arabic)
• 01/02/2009: ISRAEL: 320 Palestinian children detained and ill treaten in Israel's prisons (Arabic)
• 01/02/2009: HELPLINES: Connecting to Children
• 01/02/2009: Home Truths: Facing the Facts on Children, AIDS, and Poverty

Organisation Contact Details:

International Institute for Child Rights and Development
Centre for Global Studies
University of Victoria
PO Box 1700 STN CSC
Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2
Tel: 250-472-4762
Email: iicrd@uvic.ca
Website: www.iicrd.org

Last updated 06/02/2009 11:51:36

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.