Dubai Police help women victims of abuse

Dubai: Women of all nationalities who have been abused by their husbands or any family members can approach Dubai Police’s human rights department around-the-clock.

Police said abused women and children can get help at the Women and Child Protection Department.

More than 175 cases were addressed by the department in 2012, including custody cases, domestic violence and child negligence.

Dr Colonel Mohammad Al Murr, director of the General Department of Human Rights, said that 46 family cases had been reported and solved by the department last year.

Colonel Al Murr said that the department rescued five children in 2012 who had been neglected by their divorced parents, their mother used to leave her children home alone with the housemaid all the time.

The children were all under school age.

“We went to the family’s house where we found the children alone in very miserable situation and we informed the father and we reported the case to the public prosection to make a police case against the negligent mother,” he said.

He said the department handled several cases regarding Emiratis married to foreign women, where the father never applied for passports or any documents for the children,

“We sort out the issues of such children,” he said.

He recalled one case last year about a child who was born with a defect and the parents abandoned their newborn in the hospital.

“We talked to the father and we convinced the family to take care of their child,” he said.

“Our department also deals with cases related to children’s conduct disorder and delinquency among girls and boys,” he said.

Colonel Al Murr said that some parents contacted police asking for help because of their children’s unruly behaviour.

“We talk to the child, we monitor the behaviour of the child and we follow up on him or her for more than one year to be sure that the teen’s behaviour is going on the right path,” said.

Colonel Al Murr said that sometimes the department offers financial aid to women and children who are victims of abuse.

Colonel Al Murr said that the department’s door is open to Dubai residents whether they are Emiratis or expatriates.

“People with problems can visit our offices at Dubai police headquarters, they can also contact us by calling or sending emails or a fax.”

We follow up on criminal cases in which the victims are women or children, he said.

There are several sections at the department, including social support for victims of violence and crime, the legal section and the follow-up section.

Twenty seven cases have been resolved so far this year and four referred to other authorities.