[November 23, 2009] 'Protect children' drive Tweet Nov 23, 2009 (Gulf Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- AN initiative that aims to combat child abuse in the Middle East was launched by a Bahrain association yesterday. The Protect Children Now movement's primary aims are to create better legislation on child abuse, create awareness on legislation and advocate its implementation. Another objective is to create a database that identifies the best practices in child protection in the region in the way of laws, research and case studies. The movement plans to create a network for legislators, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and interested parties that will enable them to work together on combating child abuse. The network would be a resource that could be used by decision-makers to help them develop legislation that will protect children from abuse. The movement is launched by the Bahrain Women's Association for Human Development's Be Free Centre, but was created together with various local, regional and international organisations and groups working in the field of child protection. "Currently the laws that are part of the legislation, especially in the GCC, are very weak -- we don't have child protection laws here," centre manager Rana Al Sairafi told the GDN. "What's happening is that in any child abuse case that comes up, the verdict will depend on the lawyer and the judge because nothing is very clear in writing for children to be protected -- we need very clear laws. "We want to set up a database that contains all cases and the details about what has happened to these cases to be clear where the weaknesses are." Creators of the movement finalised plans for the initiative at a two-day meeting, which concluded at the Be Free Centre in Zinj, yesterday. Those at the meeting were Ms Al Sairafi, association president Dr Soroor Qarooni, Zen-Do Bahrain founding director Suhail Algosaibi, UN special rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Najat Majid Maala, US-based Foundation for Global Leadership president J'lein Liese, UAE lawyer Dr Mohammed Al Roken, and Middlesex University, UK, psychotherapist and survivors of trauma consultant Dr Kate Maguire. Dr Maguire said the movement was a means to address the lack of child protection legislation in the region. She said while centres could provide treatment to victims of child abuse without adequate laws, there was a limit to things they could do to help or protect a child once he/she left their care. "It's time to address the gap," said Dr Maguire. "If the child is not protected by law and the perpetrators feel they can be free of any punishment, then perhaps it will always go on. "To stop or limit child abuse we must try to share knowledge with people and see how everyone can get involved -- everyone is a stakeholder because children are the future. "Sharing our knowledge with legal systems and the government -- this is the core." Ms Liese said one of the important objectives of the initiative was to create awareness about child protection. "We've come to launch the movement and look at how we can raise awareness throughout the Middle East," she said. "It's about awareness, education and supporting families. The movement comes from Be Free's work, they've worked internationally, in the GCC and the Middle East and have been invited to share their work and best practices." Future plans and activities of the movement will be announced soon. For further information, email: [email protected] or call 17242415. [email protected] To see more of the Gulf Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.gulf-daily-news.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Gulf Daily News, Manama, Bahrain Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]