Victims of child abuse get lifeline
A hotline to help kids who are victims of sexual harassment and violence has been launched as part of a campaign to tackle child abuse.
Head of CID at Dubai Police, Brigadier Khaleel Ibraheem Al Mansouri, said the campaign is to protect children in
the UAE. “We don’t have that many complaints about abuse, but we are looking seriously at it and want society to help us crackdown on this crime,” he said.
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Special phone number has been set up in the UAE for victims of child abuse
“We must look behind the motive when a married man with children is molesting kids. Problems in a person’s character or drinking alcohol seemed to be the main reasons,” he added.
Brigadier Abdul Raheem Mohammad, head of the fighting organised crime department, added: “We want to increase awareness levels especially on internet harassment.
“Parents must watch their children when they are on chat sites because there may be sick people on them luring children for their sick needs.”
Al Mansouri said that female supervisors were introduced on school buses almost two years ago as a way to protect youngsters from sexual deviants.
Mohammad said the force works hard to help children who are victims of sexual harassment. “We have experts who can give them psychological treatment,” said Mohammad.
The new hotline number is 800-CID (800243).
ali.shouk@7days.ae
Comments
by AAAli1
Sunday, April 29 2012, 9:05AM
“The key to this is awareness and a campaign to highlight the options for children to approach an adult they trust to inform on their behalf - simply because if the abuser is a parent or sibling or member of family they might be afraid to tell.”
by Aichakhanam
Friday, April 27 2012, 5:28PM
“Crucial initiative indeed. I guess schools can start awareness about the Child Abuse and the hotline. Sometimes children doesn't know who to tell and they are scared of informing parents. And if it is one of the parents then they should be able to go to the teacher at least.”