The Child Protection Law in the UAE was introduced for a reason: to protect all children from all forms of abuse and neglect. The law, which took effect exactly a year ago, aimed to close the gap between home and school life by making the reporting of any sign of abuse mandatory for professionals who deal with children, including educators.
In an editorial today, local English newspaper, The National, says that this is just the first step in a process which will need considerable support from all involved.
"But the law," the editorial expounded, "was the first step; enforcement is another. Advocates say that there is more to be done to establish a supportive culture, even in schools. As The National reported yesterday, they say that although many schools and teachers take child protection seriously, some principals are failing to report signs of child abuse for fear that it could damage their reputation and discourage parents from enrolling children. We reported on a case of an abused boy who repeatedly complained to teachers about his mother’s behaviour but the school did not pick up on the signs."
The editorial continued, "Reporting a case of suspected abuse is never easy. Although signs of abuse can be clear, there is always the concern of making accusations without sufficient evidence. One mistake or misread of the situation can affect the school’s reputation, and that of the parents and family. But this doesn’t justify not acting. It just means that schools have to deal delicately with such situations."
Authorities, the Abu Dhabi-based newspaper said, have to work with educational establishments to set up clear mechanisms to deal with suspected cases and ensure the smooth implementation of the law.
"This means, in the case of schools, making it as easy as possible for abuse reports to be made, and a clear procedure for investigating them. These mechanisms must recognise that most pupils will find it difficult to make a first move to speak to a counsellor, that teachers will be very wary to intervene and that some school officials may not think of the pupil first but of the reputation of the school. How the law is implemented will be the real test of its success," it concluded.
Source: WAM