Dubai Police have launched a dedicated hotline for reporting sexual abuse cases against children.
The exclusive number, 04-2661228, would help give give special care to cases and maintain confidentiality and privacy of victims and their concerned parents, Gulf News reported.
According to a senior police official, a lot of cases go unreported either by the victims themselves or even the parents for the fear of social stigma, which emboldens the criminals.
This number is a step in ensuring that parents can maintain their privacy while at the same time they report the cases, said Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of Dubai Police's Criminal Investigation (CID) Department "These crimes are at the centre of attention for CID personnel because they are destructive for children, and the effect of these acts is never erased from the minds of victims," he said, adding that the community has a decisive reaction against those who commit such crimes.
Urging families to instill a level confidence in children so that they report the cases, Brig Al Mansouri said parents need to watch the behavior of people around them and warn their children to make sure they do not fall prey to such acts.
He also advised parents to keep an eye on their children’s behavior inside and outside their homes, while not leaving them out or unattended late.
Attributing the spate of recent cases of molestation to psychological disorders and lack of education Al Mansouri said: “the attackers are usually people who try to satisfy their needs in a way that conflicts with religion, ethics and humanity.”
While also blaming substances like as alcohol, narcotics and prescription pills is also among the reasons behind these attacks.
Other reasons include broken families, failure to discipline and teach children good values, the presence of many bachelor workers, and leaving children alone with domestic help for a long time.