Dubai: Remember to say ‘No' if the school bus driver says, "Stay, I will drop everybody and then you.'
Remember to say ‘No' if the driver says, "Come and sit on my lap, I will teach you how to drive."
Remember to say ‘No' if the driver tries to touch you and threatens to hurt you if you tell your mother.
A book carrying these tips - along with many more - is doing the rounds of schools in Dubai.
According to its psychologist-author, Dr Roghy McCarthy of the Counselling and Development Clinic, Dubai, the Dubai Police has distributed 15,000 copies of the bilingual book - in Arabic and English - in schools to educate young children to stay guarded against sexual, physical or emotional abuse.
Titled Learn to Say NO, the 24-page book has adopted a cartoon, activity format where children are required to colour visuals depicting potential scenarios of abuse. Below each cartoon is the lesson to be imbibed in a short message.
"While the book may have cartoon characters, each lesson is based on real-life instances in the region," Dr McCarthy told XPRESS. She said children must be made aware that abusers include not just strangers but also familiar faces like servants, drivers, neighbours, friends or even family members.
"Children grow up in the belief that an adult is always right. But we need to teach them the fine line between respecting adults and protecting themselves," she said.
She said one common problem in the region is that of "affluence negligence", where children grow up in the care of servants. Hence, she has added tips that remind the child to say ‘No' if the housemaid insists on helping her to have a bath or asks the child to put cream on her back or woos the child into the servant quarters.
"We must encourage children to scream, shout, run - and report - any such instance without being ashamed of it," she said.
"I would like to reach more children with the co-operation of the Dubai Police," she said, adding that she is willing to conduct workshops to educate both teachers and children about how to handle different scenarios. "I conducted workshops free of cost in some schools last year," she said, adding that the colouring book is also free.
Those interested in contacting Dr McCarthy may call the Counselling & Development Clinic at 04- 3946122.
‘We are patient’
The country is waiting with bated breath for the trial to begin. More so, the victim's family. "But we are patient," said the father of the four-year-old student of Modern High School who is alleged to have been sexually assaulted on the school bus by the driver and two conductors while returning home on November 11.
"Keeping in mind the way the police and judiciary move back home in India, I can say that the pace here is supersonic," he told XPRESS on Wednesday.
"I am sure there is a process and things are moving at their natural pace," he said.
Expressing satisfaction about the way police have handled the case so far, he said, "They are doing their part.
"I have full faith in the police and the judicial system," he added. S.D.
