BOYS aged between 11 and 15 are more prone to abuse, according to an expert who said physical exploitation was the most common among cases reported in Bahrain.
The Child Protection Centre (CPC), under the Labour and Social Development Ministry, registered 700 cases last year, with the majority being cases of physical abuse among peers, according to centre head Lulwa Al Ajaji.
The number is higher than in 2017, when 469 cases were registered, 335 in the first half of 2016 and 620 in 2015.
The centre was set up in 2007 to help children, aged up to 18, who are victims of abuse.
The alleged victims undergo social and psychological evaluations after which the cases are referred to the Public Prosecution and, if needed, shelter is recommended.
“Cases are more among boys and it’s basically because they are more outgoing and exposed unlike girls who are more within the family or protected,” Ms Al Ajaji told the GDN in an exclusive interview.
However, there is increasing awareness of child rights and protection in Bahrain, said Ms Al Ajaji, who has been the centre head since 2015.
The national child support helpline (998) set up in 2011 is now more streamlined after the initial confusion of its purpose, she added.
“The number of cases varies from month to month and there is always a 10 per cent to 15pc variation more or less on an average.”
The GDN previously reported that cases of sexual abuse reported against teenage and pre-teen boys rose 800pc within a year, with 27 boys in the 11-15 age group in 2014 compared to three in 2013.
“Most of the cases are physical abuse between peers at school, either in the school or outside.
“The centre helps the physically, sexually and emotionally abused children and its role is to help them recover and rehabilitate.
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“We also have cases involving physical abuse by parents.
“We normally try to reach out to the non-abusive parent to help report the matter or we ourselves will report it especially if a child’s life is in danger.
“Most of the cases are from the group between 11 and 15 years and feature physical abuse between classmates, and we do have cases among the younger lot as well but they are comparatively fewer, though some of them may be severe.
“We have a lot of cases of children from broken families or with divorced parents, as they are most affected in such cases.
“We also have cases of sexual abuse among the younger age groups, but they are not on top of the list.”
The centre, which also caters to expatriates, has four social workers and psychologists each and three on the helpline, from Sunday to Thursday, 7am to 10pm.
“Ideally, the centre and the helpline should operate around the clock but with the number of cases right now there is no immediate need for it.”
Bahrain has signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992 and has also adopted, among others, the Child Protection Act (2012), the Protection of Child from Domestic Violence Act (2015), the Family Custody Act (2000), the law against begging and homelessness (2007), Juvenile Welfare law (1983) and the law of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities (2006).
raji@gdn.com.bh
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