When parents are jailed in UAE: case of Sri Lankan girl highlights care problem, say social workers

DUBAI // The welfare of youngsters whose parents have been jailed is paramount, social workers say.

The case of a Sri Lankan girl whose father was jailed for bounced cheques and whose mother had been deported highlighted the need to care for children when their parents are unable to do so.

Mawahib Hassan, social services manager at the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, said the best option was to place the child with a relative, but that was not always possible.

“When we face such cases, we search for the right person from a selection of the child’s relatives for them to gain custody of the child. However, the foundation ensures a safe environment before sending a child anywhere,” she said.

The Sri Lankan girl was being cared for by her father’s friend, who appealed in the press for a home for the youngster.

Her father, 35, admitted to having consensual sex with his Filipino girlfriend, 34, who had already been deported over visa offences. He claimed they had married in Sharjah, though he did not have a marriage certificate.

Mrs Hassan said the amount of time children and women spend at the Foundation’s Dubai shelter differs from case to case.

“Some cases require a longer duration than others. We offer victims immediate protection and support services in accordance with international human rights obligations,” she said. “Some victims have certain court cases that we need to attend to and finalise. Other cases require us to deal with embassies or consulates.

“Most importantly the victim has to receive full psychological support from the Foundation and once their psychological status is well ensured, they might leave the Foundation.”

Mrs Hassan said children were referred to them by either Dubai Police’s Department of Human Rights or Social Services, and the Foundation sometimes received referrals from embassies or consulates.

Whether children lived in jail with their mothers depended on referrals from Dubai Courts or Dubai Prosecution, she said.

“Our main priority is the child’s wellbeing and the decision is made by Dubai Prosecution or Dubai Courts if the child stays with his mother or stays with the Foundation.

“We do have case managers who study the mother’s condition and status and the child’s as well. Once that is analysed, we send a report to the concerned party. Once a decision has been made that a child stays at the Foundation, we accept the victim as a case; however, we don’t accept children of unknown parentage.”

At least 10 children whose mothers were in the country illegally were sent to stay with their mother in jail after the women handed themselves in during a visa amnesty last year.

The women were among 61,000 illegal residents who came forward during a two-month amnesty. All were between 20 and 30 and their children ranged from 3 to 7.