(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Â Child sexual abuse in Dubai took lead over the various kinds of child abuse in the last 11 months, as per the official child protection records of the Community Development Authority (CDA) in the emirate.
According to a senior official, 17 children, including 11 males and six females, were sexually abused from July 2012 to May 2013.
Bushra Qayed, head of Women, Children and Youth section - CDA, said as many as 43 children, up to 18 years old, including new borns were exposed to different abuses, yet the majority of these were Emiratis.
"While 14 child abuse cases were not listed, physical abuse cases came third with 10 cases, including eight males and two females, and finally two negligence cases were recorded."
All the reports are referred to the Child Protection Team - which was founded in July 2012, from the police stations and all departments concerned in the community development authorities for immediate protection. "The team consists of 12 competent social and psychological experts as well as six Dubai Police officers, all trained to the best response to any child abuse."
"The Child Protection Team immediately responds to any child abuse report, regardless of its types, and the case is then referred to the assessment team, if needed, and followed up by the head of the Women, Children and Youth section."
Adding, Al Qayed said Arab children who faced child abuse came second with five cases, followed by four Asians, one American, and four other unidentified children. About 70 per cent of these were males.
Al Qayed then affirmed that all members of the society should be aware of child rights and the best ways to protect them. "Dubai is one of the safest places for children, but we are looking for higher child protection."
Late in April this year, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children announced that child sexual abuse at schools in the country saw a significant drop, as per a study carried out on 3,000 children across the country.
Mona Al Bahr, assistant director-general for Social Care and Services at the foundation, said 'spiritual and verbal abuse at home' topped the list of anti-child violence and abuses, followed by the 'violence seen at home', indicating that most child abuses occur at home.
"The study showed 'spiritual and verbal abuse against children at school' came third, followed by 'home negligence and lack of care', 'physical abuses at home', 'physical abuses at school', 'sexual abuse at home', and finally 'sexual abuse at school'."
Afra Al Basti, director-general of the foundation, said that around 1.5 billion children are exposed to violence worldwide every year as per the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), in 2009. "It showed that some 86 per cent of children (two in every three) are suffering physical and mental violence."
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