Parents urged to provide advice to children on sexual harassment
Refugee children most exposed
KUWAIT CITY, June 10: Expert, trainer and specialist in protection of children from sexual harassment Rafeeda Al-Majdali has affirmed the need to follow up the behavior of children and parents simultaneously and provide advice to them concerning sexual harassment directly or indirectly, reports Al-Shahed daily.
During a program on Al-Shahed TV, she said, “If parents are unable to discuss such issues with their children due to embarrassment on their part, there are several awareness courses that address children and teenagers in typical ways”.
Al-Majdali highlighted that sexual harassment is not necessarily physical, can happen verbally and through feelings, adding that this is what happens when children are exposed to some websites on the Internet or when using smartphones.
She affirmed that refugee children are most exposed to sexual harassment, stressing that the activities of Al-Salam Voluntary Team are not restricted to just providing aid and assistance to refugees but it also provides training courses to refugees in this aspect.
Al-Majdali revealed about a child protection program of Ministry of Health under a panel of pediatricians, psychiatrics and forensic officers as well as representatives of Ministry of Interior, explaining that children who have been subjected to abuse are received by the panel. Sometimes parents approach the panel with this issue when they have doubts about the behavior of their children.
She indicated that deterioration of the educational performance of a child can happen due to sexual harassment.