UAE to unveil results of first national survey on child violence

The results of the UAE's first nationwide survey about violence against children are expected this year.

The study will provide concrete statistics on the prevalence of child abuse, a topic thrust into the public eye by the story of Wadeema, an 8-year-old Emirati girl tortured to death, allegedly by her father and his partner.

The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) began to gather data in late 2011.

Social workers polled 3,000 pupils in government schools in all seven emirates.

Results were initially expected in September but DFWAC recently said they would be announced early this year. At present, the only statistics on the topic are local.

In a 2007 survey of more than 500 high-school students in Al Ain, 27 per cent said they had been physically abused, while 11 per cent said they had been sexually abused.

vnereim@thenational.ae