Progress Amid Resistance

JORDAN 205victims, prosecute offenders, and prevent future assaults from occurring.Activists have noted gaps in the law, including the fact that it only appliesto families living together in the same house, and restricts its definition ofdomestic violence to acts committed in the home of the victim. Criticsof the FPL also argue that it should have created a specialized family courtto handle cases of domestic violence, and that a provision requiring followupmeetings between government and social workers and the perpetratorhas not been adequately enforced. If a suspected abuser apologizes to thevictim and they agree to reconcile, he can return home.Long-standing cultural attitudes stymie the effectiveness of laws likethe FPL and other such efforts. Female victims continue to be blamedfor the abuse they face. The social stigma and shame associated with crimessuch as rape and molestation often discourage victims from turning to theauthorities, and battered women are sometimes pressured by their familiesto drop the charges. In fact, in most cases, a perpetrator of rape or molestationcan avoid punishment if he marries his victim in accordance withArticle 308 of the penal code. Lawmakers justify this provision by statingthat it protects the victim from social ostracism. There are no clear proceduresto ensure that the victim approves of this solution, which is usuallyarranged through her male guardian.The Family Reconciliation House (FRH) in Amman was created bythe Ministry of Social Development in 2007 to provide shelter for domesticviolence victims. Women’s organizations run a few temporary sheltersin the country, but their capabilities are quite limited compared to thoseof the FRH. In addition to providing housing, it employs social and legalexperts who attempt to mediate conflicts between the victims and theirabusers. Women can stay at the FRH for roughly six months, althoughthe limit is reportedly more flexible. The FRH was originally intended toprovide victims with rehabilitation and a long-term solution to their problems.However, government officials feared that it would be attacked byconservatives in society as a refuge for “bad women.” As a result, womenfacing enduring threats from their families continue to be imprisoned fortheir own safety.Women’s rights NGOs have worked independently and in cooperationwith the government, UNIFEM, USAID, and other donor agencies toad dress issues of gender-based and domestic violence. Hotlines, social andlegal consultations, and other forms of assistance were offered by women’sorganizations including the Sisterhood Is Global Institute (SIGI) and the