Established in July 2007 to offer victims of violence and abuse immediate protection and support services in accordance with international human rights obligations, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) has made a journey of exceptional nature over the years as it gains the trust of the society it was created for. In the first half of this year, 183 calls from children under the age of 18 relating to violence were received. The total number of calls to the organisation in the first six months have increased by a whopping 63 per cent and this number attests to the confidence the public places in the organisation when it comes to dealing with their issues. About 42 per cent of the helpline callers were Emiratis and the rest from other nationalities.
In fact, DFWAC’s helpline 800111 is the ninth call centre that holds the International Child Helpline membership in the Middle East and North Africa, making the UAE the only country in the region to have this privilege. This is proof of the exemplary role being played by the DFWAC in strengthening the UAE’s social fabric.
