International Child Abuse Prevention Month was marked yesterday at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City with a series of lectures on child abuse and child protection issues, which were attended by health workers and other stakeholders.
The lectures dispelled the myth that abuse only happens in poor families or that only "bad" parents abuse their children - many parents have mental health problems of their own, speakers said.
Another myth was abused children becoming abusers. While they are more likely to repeat the cycle of abuse, many grow up wanting to protect children, speakers said.
There was also a discussion on how child abuse has become more open in the region recently.
* Vivian Nereim
