This research study aims to investigate child labor in Irbid to provide a deep understanding of and knowledge about the socio-economic and cultural context of working children in Irbid. It also aims to propose intervention programs that maximize the effectiveness of the Family and Childhood Protection Society (FCPS);; an NGO in Irbid that works on issues related to children. Various study results have shown that children often work in dangerous and hazardous conditions where they are exposed to physical and psychological abuse;; in addition to exploitation in terms of minimal pay and long working hours. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used to conduct the research presented in this report. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data from all organizations working on child-related issues and from working children and their family members.

This first Jordanian National Human Development Report focuses on the condition and role of young people in the country;; arguing that the capacity of young Jordanians to contribute to national development and to compete in the global economy will determine whether Jordan remains a low middle income country or joins the ranks of the world's advanced economies. The Report looks at young people's lives and aspirations in the three key areas of education;; employment and social integration;; finding for example that 60% of all unemployed people are below that age of 25. The Report concludes that although Jordan has made significant advances in building people's capabilities;; there is room for improvement in aspects of gender-equality;; employment;; income and quality and relevance of education;; and ends with a substantial section on policy recommendations suggesting strategies for addressing this shortfall

This report presents a compelling argument as to why realising the full potential of Arab women is an indispensable prerequisite for development in all Arab states. It argues persuasively that the long hoped-for Arab “renaissance” cannot and will not be accomplished unless the obstacles preventing women from enjoying their human rights and contributing more fully to development are eliminated and replaced with greater access to the “tools” of development;; including education and healthcare. By placing Arab women firmly in the centre of social;; cultural;; economic and political development in the entire region;; the Report goes beyond arguing that half the population deserves half the participation. In fact;; it asserts that irrespective of the numbers;; Arab women have already accomplished great strides that are transforming the region’s political economy and social demography. While lauding these achievements and making a strong case for facilitating this strong current of positive social transformation;; the Report also analyses the remaining impediments;; and suggests concrete steps towards their elimination.

The Arab Human Development Reports continue to examine the factors that prevent an Arab renaissance from taking off;; and to search for those that could empower it to advance and progress. In this third installment in the series;; the report focuses on the deficit of freedom and good governance and calls for far-reaching legal and political reforms.

The country profile component of the Manara project is a rigorous and exhaustive report on the status of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It aims to be a resource for identifying gaps and challenges on the status of the implementation of the Convention;; to highlight the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on specific matters;; and to identify commendable practices implemented by the State;; civil society and the international community in addressing these issues. The information was collected by exhaustive literature review and followed by field research involving a series of interviews with identified stakeholders;; government ministries and institutions;; local and INGOs;; academics;; unions and professional associations;; media;; religious authorities and United Nations agencies were contacted and interviewed. The structure of the study is based on the following themes: human rights;; children’s rights;; child labor and violence against children

Many reports talk about poverty and the poor;; but few actually provide the space for the poor themselves to take centre stage and to talk about their lives. Jordan’s second National Human Development Report redresses this imbalance. It places the poor at the centre of analysis and attempts to capture the diverse and dynamic characteristics of poverty through the eyes of the poor themselves. A major theme of the report is that the considerable human development gains that have been achieved at the macro-level in Jordan have yet to trickle down to many sub-groups among the poor. The report provides detailed recommendations to accelerate this process and to enhance positive outcomes for the poor.

The report highlights the essential role played by micro;; small and medium enterprises in the promotion of human development in the country;; and through four main pillars;; namely economic growth;; that is inclusive and pro-poor;; social progress;; participation;; empowerment throw micro finance;; and environmental sustainability. The report consists of eight chapters dealing with: the concept of human development through small and medium enterprises;; human development in Jordan;; economic growth;; social progress;; empowerment;; the role of microfinance to empower less advantaged groups;; and a chapter on sustainable development.

Jordan’s second Millennium Development Goals Report 2010 shows the extent to which progress has been made towards achieving those targets and highlights the challenges that still confront the country to achieve these goals. The report seeks to identify the policies required for meeting the MDG targets by the year 2015;; at a time when the United Nations and the World’s governments are exerting a collective effort to review the progress achieved to date and identify the obstacles standing in the way of meeting the goals and targets by 2015.