The Child Protection Section of the General Department of Human Rights in Dubai Police recorded 503 cases of child abuse during the past year, and took several measures in their regard, which varied between issuing a criminal report in cases of violence or assault, or drawing attention and obligating the causative party to sign a pledge, or enabling the case to be referred. To a competent authority that provides the required care.
The Director of the General Department of Human Rights at Dubai Police, Major General Dr. Muhammad Al-Murr, said that the father topped the list of sources of harm in the registered cases, with 101 cases, while the friends came in an advanced position with 82 cases, and the mother was the source of harm in 50 cases.
The Director of the Women and Child Protection Department at the General Department of Human Rights, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ali Jumaa Al Matroushi, stated that children from 11 to 18 years old topped the list of those most vulnerable to harm, with 240 cases, followed by children from 5 to 10 years old with 192 cases, then children From the age of 6 to 10 years, by 161 cases.
In detail, the Director of the General Department of Human Rights at the Dubai Police, Major General Dr. Muhammad Al-Murr, said that the Women and Child Protection Department pays great attention to the cases of children that come to it, and was keen to diversify the means of communication, and ensure its ease in order to achieve a speedy response, indicating that the department receives communications from Several sources, and then actions are taken according to the nature and extent of harm to the child in each case.
He added that the Child Protection Department recorded 539 cases of children who were abused, harmed or neglected in one way or another during the past year, including cases referred from the Ministry of Interior Center for Child Protection, others from the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, and others who personally attended the department seeking help, pointing out that The department provided a direct window to protect children and women, through the Dubai Police smart application on mobile phones, as well as the “WhatsApp” service.
He added that fathers topped the sources of harm in cases recorded during the past year, by 101 cases, followed by cases in which both parties participated, the father and mother by 99 cases, then friends 82 cases, and the mother alone by 50 cases, and the stepfather 25 cases, in addition to 19 cases recorded In schools, and cases involving other people.
He explained that the cases are dealt with according to their nature, as some of them require the issuance of a report against the person who caused the harm to the child, and this usually happens in cases of assault or abuse, and in some cases of neglect that may affect his safety.
He pointed out that the administration referred 36 cases to the penal section, by opening a communication against the culprit, and asked for an opinion from the Family and Juvenile Prosecution in 45 cases, and obligated the causative parties to sign 38 pledge bonds, pointing out that there are cases that turn out to be incorrect or malicious, and their number reached During the past year, there were 103 cases, while the administration was keen to take the empowerment measure, which is the referral to relevant partners, such as the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, the courts, or the Community Development Authority in other cases.
He continued that the registration of this number of cases reflects society’s awareness of the importance of resorting to the competent authorities in case the child is exposed to any harm, attributing this to the campaigns and initiatives launched by the administration during the recent period, and the launch of the Safety Ambassadors program, which contributed to closely monitoring the reality inside schools, and building a wall Of trust between children and their peers as “safety ambassadors”.
For his part, the Director of the Women and Child Protection Department, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ali Jumaa Al Matroushi, said that the Gulf and Arab nationalities topped the list of cases registered by the department, while children from 11 to 18 years old were the most vulnerable to harm by 240 cases, followed by children from birth to five. years, with 192 cases, followed by children from six to 10 years old, with 161 cases.
He added that the cases received by the administration varied between assault or abuse and neglect, pointing out that there are certain cultures that still believe that beating is the appropriate way to straighten a child, but this is no longer legal, in light of the Child Protection Law that prohibits these punitive methods, and it can be said that they have disappeared. To a large extent, especially in schools, which have begun to impose restrictions on hitting students, but on the other hand, there is sometimes a need to find a mechanism to prevent children from persisting against their teachers.
He explained that, according to the cases registered with the administration during the past year, there are complaints related to the parents’ refusal to grant the child the nationality of the father or mother, according to the laws regulating that, as a result of neglect or a dispute between the parents, stressing that the law was clear in this regard, which is to grant the child nationality of his father.
And he continued that in the same context, there are frequent cases of fathers neglecting to obtain identification papers for their children, or refusing to do so out of spite against the mother or the other party, which deprives him of all his other rights, such as education, health insurance and care, pointing out that the administration intervened in more than one case. , and was able to obtain identification papers related to the nationalities and identities of the children, in accordance with the rules for proving parentage and other relevant procedures.
He reported that there are also cases of complaints by children about their parents’ lack of respect for their will or their right to choose the education they want, and forcing them to take certain courses or curricula that do not correspond to their desires, stressing that the law gives the child the right to express his views, but rather respect his orientations.
He pointed out that among the repeated complaints as well, the parents or one of them deliberately include children as a party to the common conflict between them, and this happens in unstable families, which exposes him to psychological and emotional harm, and this is a violation of his rights.
Al-Matrooshi said that among the complaints examined by the administration is also related to informing medical institutions or an external party after the child has received the necessary examinations, vaccinations and medical care, due to the negligence of his guardian, stressing that this represents a flagrant violation of all his rights.
He warned against the involvement of some suppliers of smoking devices for children by selling these things to them, such as electronic cigarettes and dowakhs, indicating that these complaints are dealt with decisively, because the law completely prohibits the sale of smoking products in all their forms to them.
He revealed that cases were also monitored of exposing children to pornographic content through the Internet, or the presence of games and websites on the network that represent a danger to them in this aspect, pointing out that the relevant partners, such as the authorities concerned with combating cybercrime and the National Media Council, are immediately contacted to block these. Networks and platforms, within the framework of the role played by the state to protect and immunize children.
Al-Matroushi pointed out that among the frequent reports is that children are deprived of education due to the guardian’s failure to pay tuition fees, which impedes his basic right imposed by the state for him to education, stressing that these cases are dealt with immediately, through internal empowerment and communication with the relevant authorities.
• 36 cases were referred to the criminal section, with a complaint filed against the perpetrator, and the Family and Juvenile Prosecution Office requested an opinion in 45 cases.
Baby Oasis
The Director of the General Department of Human Rights at Dubai Police, Major General Dr. Muhammad Al-Murr, said that the department has designed a child-friendly place, called “Al-Waha”, established in a manner that is self-loving, and filled with games and shapes, so that he feels comfortable and happy, and he can explain the details of what happened with him, without feeling. Under pressure or awe of the offices, pointing out that the oasis was designed according to the latest standards related to this aspect of dealing with children.
A criminal report against a mother because of her child
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Matrooshi said that among the repeated complaints or reports received by the administration are those related to child neglect or leaving him alone in a public place, garden or play area without anyone accompanying him, or even leaving him alone at home without providing his most basic rights to safety and protection, as a result of preoccupation Guardian of his work or other matters. He added that one of the cases recorded by the administration in this regard was a report received from the neighbors of a Gulf woman, stating that her four-year-old son had not stopped crying for more than an hour, to the point of worrying them that he might be subjected to harm or threat.
He pointed out that the police patrol, affiliated with the competent center, moved immediately to the apartment, and heard the child crying hysterically, so she contacted the mother, who came within 40 minutes, and when she opened, the child was in the middle of the hall of the house, and his eyes were red from excessive crying, pointing to the registration of a communication Against the mother in this case, because it was double negligence on her part, and she justified it by her preoccupation with work, and the absence of someone to take care of him.
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