Dubai: Crisis calls received by the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) increased by more than 130 per cent in the first six months of this year compared with calls received for the entire 2013, say senior officials.
The foundation’s hotline received 2,351 calls in the first half of this year compared with 1,022 calls for all of 2013.
As much as “74 per cent of calls reported physical abuse, 86 per cent were emotional and verbal abuse; neglect, deprivation, and financial abuse cases were nine per cent, and sexual abuse victims were one per cent of the total 2,351 calls received,” Afra Al Basti, Director-General of the Foundation, told Gulf News on Monday. “DFWAC’s success in reaching out to our precious community is about making them able to talk about their violence problems and solve them swiftly. A few people might think that the increase in the number of calls is a negative connotation. However, stopping the silence and speaking against domestic violence is a major step to end it and prevent new cases.”
Afra noted that it takes a community to become involved in an issue to effect change.
“It takes everyone in the community to put an end to domestic violence. We as an Emirati community must be willing to go outside our comfort zone to challenge behaviours and people that negatively affect our country. We must all be leaders in violence prevention,” she added.
The foundation’s hotline received 627 calls from domestic violence victims. As many as 92 per cent of those victims have spoken and stepped out of their comfort zone — 82 per cent of the calls were seeking advice and consultation for problems involving domestic violence, 6 per cent were of child abuse, four cases of sexual assault, and 11 per cent were for reasons other than the above mentioned categories,” Afra said.
She added that 47 per cent of calls were placed by Emiratis and the other 53 per cent of callers were from other nationalities. Most of the calls were made by adults, but 7 per cent of the total 2,351 calls were made by children.
Afra said that the helpline 800 111 receives all requests, inquiries and advice for free 24/7 and deals with all callers’ information in confidence.
“Calls through DFWAC’s hotline are also classified according to the level of seriousness of each case,” Afra added.
“The cases which are in immediate danger is classified in the first level and accepted immediately in the shelter after various interviews. Later on a specialist studies the case and determines the required services,” Afra added.
Afra indicated that DFWAC is working in close collaboration with various bodies, especially police departments, to provide the best means of support and care for victims and ensure their safety.
— Nawal Al Ramah is an intern at Gulf News
