Abu Dhabi workshop: Openness over child abuse issues needed

Nancy Merheb, researcher at the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Children, speaks at the workshop. Delores Johnson / The National

ABU DHABI // There needs to be more openness about issues regarding children’s rights and child abuse, said experts from across the Middle East at a workshop in the capital.

Speaking at the Media Is A Child’s Friend seminar on Tuesday, they said there should be a codified system when it comes to publishing and broadcasting issues related to children.

Nancy Merheb, a researcher at the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Children, said she had noticed a shift in the ways the community and the media discussed issues relating to abuse and child protection, but there could still be improvements.

“Ten years ago, such issues were sensitive and considered taboo. Now higher organisations and authorities are working hand-in-hand to raise awareness and this is where the media comes in to cooperate,” she said.

“It is important for organisations to show their efforts through the media, and it is more important to provide the services that children may need, even if they are not abused.”

She said policymakers found it difficult to find statistics and databases on issues relating to children. This meant they were often in the dark about the gravity of the problem.

“The last updated databases are two or three years old, which create barriers for entities that require them,” said Ms Merheb.

“We are looking at carrying out a survey of mothers and children to find out family modules that we are unable to get, but that does not mean there is no data.”

Ayda Ghirbal, a child-protection expert from Tunisia, said more openness about teaching children their rights was also important.

“We can come up with laws and regulations, but in the end the society must be convinced of the laws and the repercussions. There needs to be a basis of what a child’s right is and train those who work with children to protect them, and have them spread awareness to the child,” she said.

“Media plays a role in awareness and, ideally, it should be the voice of the children. We should aim to make child rights culturally accepted and implemented, and it should be educational to the children.”

She said the media should be explaining to parents how to teach their children about what harms them.

Dr Hani Jahshan, a child-safety expert from Jordan, gave examples of how journalists in his home country had tackled individual cases of child abuse and neglect by investigating the cases and finding the gaps in the authorities’ systems.

“A medical doctor in abuse cases is important. But a media person will constantly look into the topics. I advise media representatives to create a platform, and to question the shortfalls of those responsible,” he said.

“Child abuse is a societal problem, and it is a public health issue and each government should take responsibility.”

There was also discussion in the audience about the media’s role in highlighting cases of child abuse.

One audience member believed “not all private information in a case or a situation should be published”.