The lecture, directed to mothers and teachers, was part of the Himayah Protection Society campaign to combat child abuse under the title “Schools Without Violence.” The society hopes the campaign will be implemented at all schools in the Kingdom.
The lecture was given by Fatima Al-Aqeel, vice chairman of the Himayah Protection Society board of directors and a specialist at the Intensive Care Unit of the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Jeddah. She urged parents to talk to them if any of their kids was being abused.
“We can help by giving physical treatment as well as physiological and social care. We even provide financial aid to families in need,” Al-Aqeel said.
She added that their goal was to help those children to be normal and productive individuals in society, “and to prevent them from turning into abusive individuals when they grow up.”
Answering an Arab News question on the procedure they follow if one of the parents is abusive, Al-Aqeel said that a committee at the Ministry of Social Affairs was in charge of handling such cases. “The child is usually sent to a foster mother, such as the child’s grandmother or aunt. We believe splitting the family is not a solution; therefore, we concentrate more on knowing the causes of violence and treating the child and parents psychologically,” Al-Aqeel added.
Asked about the types of violence they witness at the hospital, she said it is mainly physical. “In some cases, babies are the victims; we see burns and broken bones due to harsh beating.”
According to Al-Aqeel, boys tend to be sexually abused more often than girls, because they go out more often. However, she added that sexual abuse tends to be “seasonal” and explained that Eid and special occasions see a rise in abuse cases.
Through their awareness campaign, Himayah tries to make children confident of themselves and not to be recoiled by any threats from abusers. “We teach them how to behave, how to be strong and build trust in themselves, so as to not be frightened by phrases like, ‘I will kill you or your mom.’”
Al-Aqeel said children are harmed not just by violence. She explained that parents might contribute to serious diseases in children if they move them or rock them hard when playing with them or putting them to sleep. “One-fourth to 38 percent of babies whose parents rock them hard die. Others may go in comas or develop physical disabilities due to damages in their brains.”
