31 children abused between January and June this year

Inside the living area at the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children. Courtesy DFWAC

DUBAI // A six-month-old baby was one of 11 children taken in by a shelter in Dubai in the first six months of this year because they had been abused by their fathers.

The children, nine of them girls and all aged under 10, were removed from their family homes.

They were among 31 children, 18 girls and 13 boys, who suffered physical and mental abuse and neglect. Four of the children had witnessed domestic violence and three had been sexually abused.

The other 20 children, aged from 1 to 17, remained with their families.

There were 29 cases during the same period last year.

Most parental abuse of children happens because of “lack of sufficient awareness about raising children, which leads them to abuse their children thinking that this is the best way to raise a child, in addition to the inability of the parents to control their anger towards the child’s actions”, said Afra Al Basti, director general of Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, which runs the shelter.

Ms Al Basti said it was important to educate parents, who often relied on their personal experience when their own parents used violence to discipline them.

Once children are brought to the shelter, staff provide psychological support and counselling. The youngsters continue going to school and after a period of three to six months they are either sent back to their families in the UAE or to live with relatives in their home countries.

Staff follow-up each case for six months to ensure the children are safe once they have left the shelter. The 20 children who were not housed at the shelter also received counselling.

“The age of external cases of child abuse ranged from one year to 17 years, and most of them were males,” said Ms Al Basti.

Reports of abuse by a child’s father was the most common, followed by harassment by the mother. Children also reported abuse by peers, siblings or teachers.

“Eight cases were referred to DFWAC by their relatives, four by the hospital and four by the child helpline,” Ms Al Basti said.

One case of abuse was brought to DFWAC’s attention by the child himself, while others were either referred by schools or the Community Development Authority.

The foundation said it was usually notified of child welfare cases by its hotline number 800111, either by the child itself or by relatives. Cases are often also brought to its attention by the police and the public prosecution.

“Dealing with reports of child abuse received by the foundation begins with sending all the details of any case to the care and rehabilitation department in DFWAC to identify and appoint a case director,” said Ms Al Basti.

The case officer then determines the type of abuse and the kind of intervention necessary. The officer also determines if the child has to be brought to the shelter or can receive care while remaining with their families.

The strategy to deal with each victim depends on the nature of the problem and a rehabilitation plan for each child is implemented according to their needs. Authorities regularly assess their programmes and examine the available family and social support, psychological support, legal support, health care and housing support.