DUBAI // The need for systems to protect children at school and at home has been highlighted by the number of child abuse cases reported to the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children last year, a consultancy says.
Last year, the foundation handled 62 cases, down from 69 in 2015. Since its inception in 2007, it has handled more than 500 cases.
As GCC countries improve their child protection measures, there should be a focus on legislative framework and on raising awareness, said a study by the consultancy, Strategy&.
GCC countries were actively pursuing child protection initiatives, said Fadi Adra, a Strategy& partner.
“Some of this requires putting in place the right enablers in terms of legislative framework, human capabilities, governance and guidelines,” he said.
“It also involves raising awareness of the problem within communities so that people are able to effectively detect child abuse, and making reporting mandatory while protecting whistleblowers so that they do not worry about reporting suspicions of child maltreatment.
“Schools in particular play a critical role given that school is where children spend a lot of time.”
The UAE’s Child Protection Law has won praise from children’s rights groups for leading the way for other countries.
The law covers physical and sexual abuse, habitual maltreatment, neglect and exploitation by groups that teach fanaticism or hatred, or urge children to commit violence. For its part, the foundation is raising awareness about child abuse and has yearly campaigns.
Last year, it responded to 88 calls about suspected child abuse, up from 92 in 2015.
In Qatar, healthcare professionals are leading strategic efforts to prevent child abuse.
In January, the Sidra medical and research centre in Doha launched a child advocacy programme after a series of workshops for civil servants, healthcare professionals and human-rights experts.
The programme supports children who have been abused or neglected at home or in the community.
Dr Khalid Al Ansari, Sidra’s division chief of emergency medicine, said it was working closely with law enforcement and forensic agencies under the ministry of interior, the protection and social rehabilitation centre and the family consulting centre.
Saudi Arabia set up the national family safety programme in 2005. It seeks to raise awareness about domestic abuse and to provide providing preventive and support schemes.
In Oman, the sultanate adopted the national strategy for childhood 2016-2027 to protect the rights of women and children and to enact preventive and care programmes for victims of abuse.
Valerie Jambart, a Strategy& manager, said the first step was to agree on a common definition of maltreatment to enable detection of child abuse.
“People who report cases need to feel confident that these will be dealt with expeditiously and professionally, without putting the child at risk of further harm,” Ms Jambart said.
“This is where the respect of confidentiality in information management plays a key role.
“Properly vetting staff who interact with children in schools is yet another factor for a successful child protection ecosystem.
“We are on the right path but still have a long way to go to properly fulfil the basic social requirements of child protection.”
newsdesk@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: from Dh321,200
On sale: now
De De Pyaar De
Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
more from Janine di Giovanni
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
FA Cup fifth round
Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.