Jordan: bodily integrity and freedom from violence

Mafraq, Jordan

Nora is the 15 year old Syrian refugee mother of a six month old son who lives with her mother. Following Bedouin tradition, she married last year, to a 22 year old man whom she had never met before. Because she was only 14 , too young to legally marry in Jordan, the marriage was informal. Unable to agree with her husband “on anything”, the couple separated before their son was even born.

Gaza camp, Jordan

Adel is a 12 year old Palestinian boy from Gaza camp, which is the poorest of the camps in Jordan. Part time after school, and full time during school holidays, Adel collects scrap metal on the streets. He earns 10 cents for each kilogram. While his work often involves digging through piles of trash, Adel is motivated to stick with this work as he saving up to buy a mobile phone.

Mafraq, Jordan

Hajar is a ten year old Syrian who has only attended school for one semester. She dropped out because she was bullied by other students and abused by teachers because she has a mobility impairment. Hajar visits her cousin every day and attends a Makani centre, where teachers never beat her and learning is fun. She dreams of finding a full time school where she would be accepted for who she is.