Global Progress Towards Ending the Sexual Exploitation of Children
A global problem requires truly global solutions to address the sexual exploitation of children.
Indicators
Age of Consent
No
The age of sexual consent is 18 years old but only applies to girls, boys are only covered under the provision on "indecent act". Furthermore the age of sexual consent can be under 18 if if the sex occurs beween a married couple. While marriage is set at 18 years old, the law provides exceptions where children under 16 can also be married under certain circumstances. No close-in-age exemption is provided.
Analysis of country legislation on age of sexual consent, 2024
Extraterritoriality & Extradition
Partial
Active extraterritoriality is provided for all felonies and misdemeanours (all SEC related offences under the Penal Code in articles 292-298 are considered felonies under article 300), committed by Jordanian nationals abroad (be it as perpetrators, accomplices, abettors or aiders), under Article 10.1 of the Penal Code. Active extraterritoriality is also provided for offences committed abroad by foreign nationals residing in Jordan if their extradition is not requested or not granted under Article 10.4 of the Penal Code. Double criminality is not required for proceeding with active extraterritoriality under Article 10. Passive extraterritoriality is not provided under the Penal Code.
The Extradition Act of 1927 establishes general provisions on extradition and refers to a list of extraditable offences under article 2. This list has not been found and therefore it has not been possible to determine if SEC related offences are extraditable offences.
Penal Code,
Extradition Act of 1927, 1960 (status as of 2010), 1927 (status as of 1944)
CSAM Definition
Not Yet Assessed
Background Check Required
Not Yet Assessed
National Commitments
Not Yet Assessed
Child Advocacy Centers
Not Yet Assessed
SEC Police Unit
Not Yet Assessed
Protection Standards Travel and Tourism
Not Yet Assessed
Public SEC Case Data
Not Yet Assessed
Age of Consent Law is Appropriate
The age of sexual consent for both males and females is 18 and a close in age exemption (up to 3 years) is provided for consensual sexual relationships between adolescents.
The age of sexual consent is the legally defined age at which a person is considered mature enough to agree to sexual activity. The age of sexual consent varies across jurisdictions around the world and there is no international legal instrument establishing it, however various forms of advocacy have encouraged States to establish a minimum age under which engaging in sexual contact is considered a criminal offence. This is intended to prevent sexual contact with children and to prevent argument that the child consented as a defence.
Often national provisions related to the age of sexual consent include an exception, known as a close-in-age exemption, making consensual sexual activities between young people lawful if the partners are of similar ages and the age difference is not higher than a certain number of years.
To ensure that cases of child sexual exploitation do not go unpunished, ECPAT advocates for the age of sexual consent to be set at 18 for both males and females with a close-in-age exemption of 2-3 years provided in order to ensure young people are not penalised for consensual sexual acts with peers. The age from which the exemption applies should be established by States but may begin for young people somewhere between 12 and 16 years of age.
Yes The national legislation explicitly indicates that the age of sexual consent unequivocally is 18 for both males and females, with a close-in-age exemption for sexual acts between peers (of up to 3 years) is provided by law.