Abused children need resources and funding to be protected, UAE social workers say

Child protection workers are backing the law, which won government approval last month, but claim an adequate support network to take children out of harm’s way could take years.

DUBAI // Child protection workers warn that children will still be vulnerable to harm until a protection network is set up to back the recently passed Children’s Rights Law.

They say setting up a network could take years, and have called for resources and funding for protection services as a priority.

Tracy Fountain, a former government consultant, said child protection was still developing in the country and more resources were needed. She listed areas of priority.

“We do not have enough data here to support what the prevalence may be in the UAE,” said Mrs Fountain, now a protection and community liaison officer for a private company.

“Culturally, it is sensitive to go into homes to assess children at risk. That needs to change.

“We need to bridge the gap between police and communities so people feel comfortable reporting child safety concerns.

“This law shows it is a priority. If a child picks up the phone, they need to know their case is going to be handled sensitively and correctly.”

She said the child-protection hotline was a case in point.

“The national helpline is the best kept secret in the UAE but they have to be resourced enough to help,” Mrs Fountain said. “If there was the level of awareness and reporting that there needs to be, they would not be able to cope with demand at current levels.”

Another concern for experts is a lack of compulsory background checks on staff working unsupervised with children, including cleaners, bus drivers and school support staff.

The Children’s Rights Law, informally called Wadeema’s Law in memory of an eight-year-old Emirati girl tortured to death by her father, won government approval last month.

As it stands, police are the first line of response when child abuse is reported, with family liaison units trained to deal with sensitive situations.

Mrs Fountain has been voluntarily educating teachers about child protection.

In one school, none of the 40 teachers had any training or understanding of signs that a child may be at risk, was being abused or how to report it.

One school leading the way on child protection is Brighton College School, Abu Dhabi.

Priya Mitchell, who worked in UK social services for 11 years and is now the school’s counsellor and child protection officer.

“Before training, there was little understanding of child protection issues among police,” Ms Mitchell said.

“There was no real awareness of family dynamics that can lead to situations.”

The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children said it had 107 reports of abuse on 41 victims last year, 54 per cent of whom were female and 63 per cent of whom were Emirati.

Abu Dhabi Education Council standards say every school, whether public or private, must bring in a child protection officer. In December 2014 a three-month programme gave every school in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain training.

Ms Mitchell said that a dedicated hotline to report abuse was a big step but schools need to improve. “Training here at Brighton College is exceptional, rather than the norm,” she said.

“At the moment, other schools are playing catch-up with new legislation. It is likely they will be getting far more referrals.”

Tamar Abou Samra performs a similar role at RAK Academy, where teachers attend workshops at the start of the school year.

“This year there are very clear plans to meet with teachers to inform them and educate parents and pupils,” she said. “Unfortunately, we do not have background checks on people coming in from outside the school.

“It is much more about reaction, monitoring and security within the school.”

The DFWC said some child-abuse victims last year reported more than one perpetrator, but in 77 per cent of cases the father was solely responsible. The remaining cases reported mothers and stepfathers as abusers.

Neglect or deprivation was the most common abuse reported (78 per cent), followed by emotional or verbal abuse (73 per cent). Almost half of children had witnessed domestic abuse, with 17 per cent suffering physical violence.

Sexual abuse comprised 10 per cent of all reported cases.

The national hotline for reporting child abuse is 116 111, or go online at www.moi-cpc.ae/en.