Sharjah: Police are urging abused women to report their cases to authorities as the majority of incidents go unreported, said police.
The statement follows an incident in Sharjah where a Gulf News reader who wished to remain anonymous witnessed a 23-year-old woman being beaten by her brother.
The victim was covered in old and new bruises in addition to having a broken wrist as a result of the daily abuse. The victim was also locked up in her room every night.
According to the reader, a visit to the police station to report the matter led to it being deemed a "family issue."
"Does it only become a judicial issue when the girl is dead? Meanwhile, the perpetrator is free to make this girl and others like her live in a fearful environment because we want to bury our heads in the sand," said the reader.
Taken seriously
A senior police officer at Sharjah Police Headquarters, said cases of abuse are taken very seriously and are always investigated.
"There must have been a misunderstanding between the victim and the police officer at the station because all cases of abuse are investigated, and victims should not be turned away," he said.
According to research conducted by Sharjah Police in 2008, 96 per cent of abused victims do not inform authorities and do not seek help.
Abuse varies from verbal to physical abuse, and also includes locking up victims or evicting them from the house.
From January to August 2008, police recorded 50 cases of domestic violence. Police said that 17 per cent of the abuse occurs in front of victims' children, 8 per cent happens in the presence of family members, 11 per cent in front of neighbours, and 9 per cent in front of strangers.
Victims below the age of 18 are treated as minors and the case is then transferred to the Social Services Department.
Hotline: Getting help
Abuse victims are urged to call the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children hotline number 8001111. The foundation not only offers shelter to abused women and children, but also offers them psychological care and counselling, health care and help integrating them into society.
Source: Gulf News Archive
