UAE launches new initiative to protect children

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs, yesterday launched an initiative aimed at identifying and responding to child abuse cases. The initiative, a corporate model for strategic partnership, was launched during a programme seeking to train and qualify 250 nursery supervisors across the country on how to early identify and report violence and cases of mistreatment that nursery school-aged children may experience. Major General Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said: ''The Ministry puts child protection at the top of its strategic priorities and ethical and social responsibility call for activating all security, preventive and social measures to protect children from any form of abuses.'' In fact, he said, the child cannot complain or express what kind of mistreatment he undergoes and this will maximise the responsibility of child protection agencies. He noted that nursery supervisors maintain good relationship and communication with children and can detect very well any symptoms of mistreatment and this role makes them key partners in the prevention and protection processes in coordination with the Ministries of interior and social affairs. The initiative raises awareness among supervisors that work with children regarding cases of violence against children. Supervisors will learn how to identify cases of violence against children that are under five years of age. Most studies indicate that the majority of violated children under five are unable to express their situation, and they are unaware of what happened to them; their unusual behaviour should help qualified people who work with children to notice any changes and investigate in case of any suspicions. Most incidents and injuries of children under five are caused by family neglect or family violence. – Emirates News Agency, WAM