State Department's Annual Report on International Child Abduction: Jordan

The U.S. State Department has recently released their annual report on International Child Abduction. Below is our ninth post in a series here focusing on the twelve countries classified as “demonstrating patterns of noncompliance.”  Today’s country is Jordan.

Country Summary: Jordan does not adhere to any protocols with respect to international parental child abduction. In 2006, the United States and Jordan signed a Memorandum of Understanding to encourage voluntary resolution of abduction cases and facilitate consular access to abducted children. In 2017, Jordan demonstrated a pattern of noncompliance. Specifically, the competent authorities in Jordan persistently failed to work with the Department of State to resolve abduction cases. As a result of this failure, 50 percent of requests for the return of abducted children remained unresolved for more than 12 months. On average these cases were unresolved for one year and 11 months. Jordan has been cited as noncompliant since 2014. 

Initial Inquiries: In 2017, the Department received three initial inquiries from parents regarding possible abductions to Jordan where no additional assistance was requested.

Central Authority: In 2017, the competent authorities in Jordan demonstrated a pattern of noncompliance by regularly declining to work with the Department of State toward the resolution of pending abduction cases. Moreover, the competent authorities have failed to resolve cases. Repeated requests by the Department for information on resources available to parents and the judicial processes to resolve abduction cases have gone unanswered over a period of two years.

Voluntary Resolution: In 2017, three abduction cases were resolved through voluntary means. 

Location: The Department of State did not request assistance with location from the Jordanian authorities. 

Judicial Authorities: The lack of clear legal procedures for addressing international parental child abduction cases under Jordanian law makes it difficult for Jordan to resolve these cases. 

Enforcement: The United States is not aware of any abduction cases in which a judicial order relating to international parental child abduction needed to be enforced by the Jordanian authorities. 

Department Recommendations: The Department will continue to encourage Jordan to accede to the Convention and expand public diplomacy activities related to the Convention.