Dubai Foundation for Women and Children helped 329 cases of abuse in first quarter of year

The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children cared for 117 Emiratis among 329 cases recorded during the first quarter of the year.

DUBAI // A shelter for victims of domestic violence and child abuse cared for 117 Emiratis among 329 cases recorded during the first quarter of the year.

The victims were 274 women and 55 men, said Afra Al Basti, director general of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.

Mothers were responsible in 16 cases, an ex-husband in eight, strangers to blame for seven, employers four, and three involved brothers. There were two cases of people suffering at the hands of friends and there was one instance each involving a stepmother and a stepfather.

Husbands faced charges in 84 cases and fathers in 35 instances. Some victims were abused by more than one person, said Ms Al Basti.

Among the new cases this year so far, apart from 117 Emiratis, there were 205 cases involving other nationalities and seven cases where the citizenship was not known. The breakdown of other nationalities was not available.

“DFWAC receives cases from different nationalities and there is no specific nationality that we can say that most of the cases are from,” Ms Al Basti said.

New cases also included human-trafficking victims and women left to fend for themselves by their family.

The foundation’s role was not limited to rehabilitating victims of physical abuse but also caring for people subjected to verbal abuse and neglect, Ms Al Basti said.

There were 80 physical abuse victims, 19 sexual abuse cases, with 136 suffering verbal or emotional abuse, 103 cases of neglect, 82 cases of financial abuse and 22 instances where children witnessed domestic violence.

In a number of cases, the victims were exposed to more than one type of abuse.

The growing number of counselling requests received by the foundation daily reflected an awareness about violence against women and children, said Ms Al Basti.

The majority of new cases was registered by calls to the foundation’s 800 111 helpline, text messages to 5111 or e-mails to [e-mail].

About 36 cases were referred by Dubai Police, 12 by relatives, eight through embassies, while the remainder was referred by government agencies and private firms.

Counsellors said it was not surprising that perpetrators were close relatives and called for increased publicity about the centre’s work so more women and children would report abuse.

“Abuse often happens within the four walls of the home. Whether sexual or physical, the first predators are always within the family because that’s the safety zone for the person at fault to do it within closed doors,” said Sunaina Vohra, a youth and family adviser who runs Athena Life Coaching.

“It’s very difficult for women to reach out for help. There is also a lack of knowledge among people that a helpline exists. There is a gap between where many women are stuck and the help available. The information can be advertised in hospitals and schools so anyone in Dubai knows where to dial in.”

As many as 787 phone calls were received by the foundation’s 800 111 helpline during the first quarter of the year, with 87 related to abused victims, Ms Al Basti said. The other phone calls were related to donations and volunteering.

Of this year’s victims, 61 were cared for at the shelter and 268 others received rehabilitation and counselling but did not require accommodation.