The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD),as one of the founding members of the National Working Group to Combat Child Labour established in 2022—took part in a field visit organized by the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) to the Center for the Care and Rehabilitation of Female Beggars in Al-Dhulail District. The visit coincided with Universal Children’s Day and the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
The visit was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development and Plan International, with the participation of representatives from government bodies, international organizations, and civil society institutions. It aimed to review the services provided to children at the center and to discuss updates on national efforts addressing child labour and begging, as part of the Working Group’s regular meeting agenda.
During the visit, ARDD was represented by lawyer Mousa Al-Zyoud. Participating entities presented key national priorities and achievements in reducing child labour, including: the adoption of the Juvenile Protection Regulation No. 36 of 2024 concerning working and begging children, aligned with the Juvenile Law No. 32 of 2014; the establishment of a National Coordinating Committee to develop a database for child labour cases and to follow up on outcomes of related projects and conferences; and the review of the Ministry of Social Development’s 2025 internal procedures manual for handling cases of working children and children in need of protection.
In this context, ARDD stresses that since the Working Group was founded in 2022, it has participated in all meetings and national efforts led by the committee, and has contributed to supporting its outputs aimed at strengthening the national child-protection system and ensuring complementarity between governmental and non-governmental roles.
Regarding ARDD’s efforts to reduce child labour and enhance child protection, Al-Zyoud explained that the organization’s participation in the visit reflects its ongoing approach to safeguarding children through a wide range of programs and initiatives. These include, notably:
Education and child protection projects: delivering awareness and training sessions for children and parents on educational and behavioral challenges; and implementing the “Investing in the Future” project in partnership with Vision Hope International e.V. to integrate artificial-intelligence technologies into education, strengthen student and teacher engagement, and contribute to reducing school dropout and learning gaps, vocational training grants including providing support to adolescents and youth most in need, alongside implementing the “Student Support (Ma‘ounat Taleb)” initiative to supply schoolbags, tablets, and stationery to students, in addition to free legal services: offering legal awareness sessions in the field and online, legal consultations, mediation, and courtroom representation for all nationalities. ARDD also conducts regular monthly visits to juvenile care and rehabilitation centers (from September 2024 through June 2026) to provide legal-awareness sessions for children and to build the capacities of staff.
On advocacy and national policies, Al-Zyoud noted that ARDD continues its leadership on the right to education through founding the National Alliance for the Future of Education in Jordan (NAFE), which strengthens efforts to protect educational rights for all, including refugees. The organization also publishes studies, research, and position papers through its Renaissance Strategic Center, addressing child protection and rights, learning loss, accountability, and governance in the education sector.
In conclusion, ARDD reiterates its firm commitment to supporting national efforts to protect children, reduce child labour, and promote a safe environment that guarantees children’s rights in Jordan.
