Bed-wetting child found to be abuse victim

Sharjah - Sharjah official urges authorities to offer 'illegal children' right to education as they are not responsible for their plight

As many as 555 calls to inform child abuse and child trafficking have been reported at child help line during the last eight months in Sharjah.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ibrahim Al Tartoor, director of the child rights protection section at Sharjah Social Service Department, shared a particular case while revealing the nature of calls received at the child help line.
A parent reported about a health issue of his child and a team from Social Service Department met the family.
"We received a call from a parent about their child who was suffering from severe bed wetting. The parent said he wet himself whenever he talks to older people.
The team conducted an investigation which revealed the child has been sexually abused by an adult, that's why he developed such a problem. We arranged for his treatment and rehabilitation so that he could lead a normal life. At the same time we notified the police and they arrested the abuser," he added.
Al Tartoor said that the calls included 109 child victims of family disputes, 54 complaints pertaining to school issues, 53 complaints involving legal issues, 24 complaints about homeless children, 12 complaints regarding mental issues and 11 complaints about physical health.
The main issue that affects the children is lack of documentation that enables them to have their education rights. The reasons cited for this issue is lack of stability in the family, as several fathers were found to be drugs addicts or one of the parents in jail and above all negligence. Added to this is families living in illegal status who cannot enroll children in schools for lack of documents.
He urged the authorities to offer the children right to education as they are not responsible of their plight.
Al Tartoor noted that the child protection law has already come to affect starting June 15. The law obliges parents to have proper documents for their children which would guarantee them all the rights of a human being.
He said that the help line has also received 330 complains about physical, verbal and sexual abuse against the children. He added that parents reach out to the help line to complain against each other due to martial disputes which involve their children. He warned that involving children in martial dispute will affect a child's future life socially and psychologically.
Regarding the response to complaints, Al Tartoor said that they take up an issue as soon as they receive the call. They investigate the case and coordinate with other concerned departments to solve the issue and help the child.
The child help line is one of the important services provided by Sharjah Social Service Department to ensure protection for the children. The service also includes the care for the abandoned children and disputed parents meeting place to allow the parents meet their children.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

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