Dubai: Regional experts and professionals in the field of preventing child abuse and neglect gathered in Dubai on Monday for a conference to discuss the latest scientific development and best practices to prevent abuse against children.
With this year's theme "From legislation to implementation", the 5th Arab Regional Conference on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect presents an opportunity for Arab countries to illustrate and share their achievements and experiences in the field of child protection against violence.
The conference is organised by the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (IPSCAN) and the Arab Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, in partnership with the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children. It is under the patronage of Lt Gen. Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
Dr Tufail Mohammad, President-elect of IPSCAN, in his opening speech said the conference is being held on the Universal Children's Day, an annual celebration on November 20. It is also on the same day in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention of the Rights of the Child.
He said child abuse is a big challenge that needs to be tackled head on since studies show that children are subjected to violence even in familiar settings such as their families or schools and the perpetrators are often people close to them--parents, relatives, neighbours, or teachers.
Dr Susan Bissell, Director for Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children-Unicef, in her keynote speech underscored the need to end violence against children--not only to reduce or half it.
She said though this is an ambitious goal, it is one that everyone needs to do collaborately because the statistics are staggering: Every five minutes, a child somewhere in the world dies of violent death.
"We aim to achieve one goal: to keep children safe and secure in a tumultuous world," she said.
Throughout the three-day conference, regional experts will also discuss interventions in child maltreatment, including medical, psychosocial and rehabilitation, legal intervention, among others.
