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Helpline for abused women, children to be set up soon

DUBAI — The Dubai Women’s and Children’s Foundation (DWCF) will soon set up an easily accessible helpline for abused women and children in the country.

However, the head of the newly-set-up foundation, says that the plans could be slightly delayed due to lack of qualified professionals to attend to the calls.

Afra Al Basti, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DWCF, says the plans are being hampered because of lack of professional staff. “I need at least 18 proactive professionals, each being able to speak different languages to attend to calls and deal with the situation immediately,” explains Afra.

Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the one-day Protection of Children and Youth Conference hosted by Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre yesterday, Afra said that the helpline number 800-1111 had already been acquired, but not activated as yet.

“We need professionals who know Dubai and its culture very well before the helpline can work officially,” she added. Currently, DWCF is receiving calls on 606-0300.

The Dubai Executive Council has given DWCF full authority on such matters while departments including Public Prosecution, police, health authorities and others lend equal support.

“We are also planning to connect this helpline to diplomatic missions in the country so that they can alert women travelling to the country and, therefore, prevent trafficking,” she adds.

Plans are also afoot to set up an orphanage at the foundation for abused and neglected children, says Afra. “The school is already functioning, but we have children who do not have parents and they have nowhere to go. Therefore, we are providing them with shelter until they need it. As per the law, in future they may also be given UAE nationality,” she adds.

At present, the DWCF has 52 cases, out of which 19 are women and the rest are children. At least 24 cases do not want shelter at the foundation, though help has still been provided to them.

She said the foundation had three cases of abused children aged six, 14 and 17. “These girls have been sexually abused by their fathers and they need psychological help now,” she said.

For such cases, the foundation has hired interviewers who can record the children’s statement and present them in the court.

She explains that 99 per cent of sheltered women preferred to travel back to their home countries. “Only one per cent want to stay back here. We have helped at least five women find jobs,” she explained.