Ministry of Gender and Family has revealed that the number of cases reported to the Ministry, related to violence against children, decreased in December last year compared to November. While 124 cases were reported to the ministry in November, the number of cases reported declined to 87 in December. Statistics revealed by the Ministry, shows it received and attended to a total of 203 cases in December 2017.
A total of 87 cases were reported to and attended by the ministry regarding violence against children, which amounts to 43% of the total cases received and attended to in December last year. The most frequently reported cases in this category involve sexual abuse. A total of 29 cases were reported in this category. Other forms of violence against children include 27 cases of physical abuse, 13 cases of neglect, 10 cases of emotional abuse, 5 cases of witness to domestic violence, 2 cases of cyberbullying and harassment and 1 case of commercial exploitation.
The Ministry further revealed that a total of 10 cases were reported to and attended by the ministry regarding children in conflict with the law in December 2017, which included cases of stealing and drug abuse and 7 cases regarding varying behavioural problems of children in December last year. Moreover, 8 cases were reported and attended regarding child rights violations and 38 cases of family issues. The reports included 20 cases of custody or access, 11 cases of parenting issues, and 7 cases of child maintenance.
38 cases involving gender based violence and domestic violence were reported to and attended by the ministry, which amounts to 19% of the total cases, according to statistics. The most frequently reported cases involve forms of physical abuse, out of which 20 were reported during this period.