Panel to probe abuses at private care homes

Dubai: Jordan's King Abdullah has ordered the government to probe reports of widespread abuse at care homes for children with special needs.

Calling for the creation of an investigation panel to review the work of public and private care homes, Abdullah said there is need to "take immediate and decisive measures" to refer those behind the abuse to the courts.

The committee will compile a detailed report on the state of affairs at these centres as well as the levels of compliance with licensing requirements and local and international monitoring standards.

"This committee should wrap up its mission within two weeks," Abdullah said in a letter to Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh. The letter was published by Jordanian media yesterday.

"We have been shocked at media reports indicating that a segment of our people who are dear to our hearts and the centre of our attention — namely, people with disabilities — are being subjected to abuse and violations," he added.

He stressed that such abuses constitute an "insult to Jordanian pride and human decency".

Earlier on Monday, Abdullah paid surprise visits to two centres caring for children with special needs, following media reports detailing routine abuses at these centres.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) produced a 50-minute documentary on the violations at the centres. An advance report was posted on the BBC website and several Jordanian and non-Jordanian media outlets, including Gulf News.

The documentary named the two centres — Ibn Khaldoun and Al Razi — and they are among the 54 private care homes in the country for children with special needs.

Brutal beatings

The BBC investigation uncovered cases of children with special needs who were seriously injured in the private care homes. It also revealed cases where children were brutally beaten to the point of bleeding, with some having their hands and fingers broken.

"The investigation shows that eight of the care homes face recent allegations of abuse," the BBC report said.

During his surprise visits, the King did not notice any violations, Jordanian media stated. However, he was dismayed by the "weakness [inherent in the] employee training [system] and the lack of proper facilities".

In his letter to the country's premier, Abdullah said: "These violations and incidents of abuse, if confirmed, indicate an enormous failure on part of supervisory and monitoring authorities of these centres, whose reported practices are in absolute contradiction with their original mission."

Human dignity

He noted the government should monitor and inspect all private and public facilities that provide social development services.

"These efforts should be aimed at assessing their [the facilities] commitment to their duties and making sure they aptly shoulder their responsibilities and play their roles, especially with regard to preserving human dignity."

Meanwhile, Abdullah said there was a need to "revisit all laws governing the work of special education centres".

"Our priority has always been to provide citizens with a safe, healthy and sound environment where all segments of society can live in dignity," he said.

Wajih Azaizeh, Jordan's Minister of Social Development, on Monday said the ministry had formed a committee of forensic experts and members of civil society organisations and human rights institutions to investigate violations in the five public and 54 private centres providing services for people with special needs.

The committee will immediately start its work and issue its report within two weeks upon the King's orders, the Jordan news agency, Petra, reported.