UAE | General
Children's charity urges vigilance to spot abuse
A senior official from a child foundation has urged people to keep an eye on their children's physical and behavioural changes, as such changes sometimes show signs of abuse.
- By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:35 November 20, 2008
Dubai: A senior official from a child foundation has urged people to keep an eye on their children's physical and behavioural changes, as such changes sometimes show signs of abuse.
Afra Al Basti, CEO of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) said, "We are calling on all families, schools and guardians to keep an eye on their children." She also said that they are working with the Ministry of Social Affairs on the drafting of the UAE Child Law.
She said some parts of the law will be based on case studies that needed to be considered. "Our children are our most precious resource, protecting them is our highest priority," Afra added.
An estimated 300 million children worldwide are subjected to violence, exploitation and abuse. Protecting children from such practises is an integral component of protecting their rights to survival, growth and development, according to UN child agency Unicef.
Afra said that the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse was launched in 2001 by the Women's World Summit Foundation to create a global culture of prevention of child abuse worldwide. This day was chosen to compliment the International Day for the Rights of a Child endorsed by the United Nations on November 20. The DFWAC is commemorating this day by raising the public's awareness to the vital issue of protecting children from abuse.
Providing shelter
"Child abuse is one of the most distressing violations to human kind," she said. "Protecting children is a global concern, and awareness is one of the first steps to combat this issue. At the foundation we not only want to offer them shelter and support, but we want to restore their rights and their faith in other human beings to help them to grow and develop as healthy individuals as mandated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child."
The case of each victim is handled with the utmost care to ensure the child is provided with essential services such as free emergency shelter, case management, medical care, counselling, legal assistance, and psychological assessment.
Children sheltered at the Foundation are also offered secondary support services including education, recreational activities, and physical fitness.
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