Public Prosecution Social Research head Dallal Al Atawi stressed that the “Safety Box for Physical Expression” is an innovative initiative aimed at empowering children, particularly victims of sexual abuse, to express their experiences through interactive means that take into account their age and psychological condition.
She said the initiative contributes to improving the quality of criminal investigations and providing a safer and more supportive environment for children.
Speaking to our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej, Ms Al Atawi explained that the project was developed as part of efforts to identify best practices in child protection after studying a number of international experiences and adapting them to Bahrain’s social and cultural environment.
She said the Safety Box uses illustrated cards and specialised professional tools that help children express themselves in a way that is closer to their own understanding, rather than relying solely on traditional interviews.
This helps reduce feelings of fear, embarrassment and anxiety, while enabling specialists to gain a better understanding of the child’s experiences and safeguard their psychological wellbeing.
Ms Al Atawi revealed that the project’s pilot implementation involving a sample of children produced positive results, including increased feelings of comfort and reassurance, improved ability to interact and disclose facts, and a reduction in signs of anxiety.
She added that some children who initially refused to speak during interviews were able to begin expressing themselves spontaneously after using the tools provided by the Safety Box.
This demonstrates the effectiveness of interactive methods in helping break the barrier of silence.
Ms Al Atawi said the Public Prosecution is continuing to develop the project by preparing a specialised version for children with special needs and studying the integration of smart technologies and interactive tools into its components.
Among the projects currently under study is the “Smart Safety Bracelet”, which aims to employ smart technologies to enhance child protection throughout the stages of judicial proceedings and support rapid response in cases requiring intervention and follow-up.
The Public Prosecution is also working on the “Child’s Eye” project, a technology-based initiative aimed at harnessing digital solutions and artificial intelligence to develop child-protection tools and provide specialists with modern means of monitoring and assessment, while maintaining privacy and the confidentiality of data.
Ms Al Atawi stressed that the continued development of these initiatives reflects the Public Prosecution’s commitment to strengthening child protection and supporting specialists through modern solutions, while ensuring that children’s privacy and psychological wellbeing remain protected.
She said such initiatives enhance Bahrain’s position in adopting the latest global practices in child protection.
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