The number of calls received by the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children's helpline "800111" increased by more than 130 per cent during the first half of this year, as it received 2351 calls compared to 1022 calls in the same period last year.
Afra Al Basti, Director General of Dubai Foundation for Women and Children "DFWAC", said that "This significant increase in the number of calls is an obvious indication of the success of DFWAC in reaching new community groups and making them aware of the issues of violence of various kinds against women and children, and methods of prevention." She added, "Contrary to what some may think that the increase in the number of calls that DFWAC receives is worrying, however, we see that this is a very positive indication, especially since most of the calls that we received during the first half of this year were general inquiries and made up for 73per cent of total calls, and the other calls regarding victims did not exceed 27 per cent , which means that we are on the right track".
The Director General of DFWAC explained that the more interesting members of the community inquire and learn about all aspects of the phenomena of violence toward women and children, the greater the size of their awareness and thus increase the chances of prevention of this phenomena.
She added that DFWAC received 627 calls regarding victims during the first half of this year, and the victims themselves conducted 92 per cent of them, relatives and friends 5 per cent and 3 per cent from official bodies.
"82 per cent of the victim related calls were seeking advice and consultation for problems involving domestic violence, and 6 per cent for child abuse, and four cases of sexual assault, and 11 per cent of the contacts were for reasons other than the categories mentioned," Al Basti said.
She added that most of these calls were issued by different nationalities by (53 per cent ), and (47 per cent ) were by Emirati callers, and the majority of callers were adults by 93 per cent and 7 per cent of children." Al Basti confirmed that the victims who were reported on through the helpline, suffered from emotional abuse / verbal by 86 per cent , and physical abuse by 74 per cent , and the financial abuse by 9per cent , and neglect and deprivation by 9per cent , and sexual abuse by 1 per cent .
She added that the main reason for all the calls related to referral of victims during the same period was getting advice by 100per cent , and that most of the calls recorded during this period were not in immediate danger and didn't require emergency intervention.
The Director General of DFWAC said that the helpline 800 111 receives all requests and inquiries and advice for free, 24-hours/7 days a week, and is dealing with all the callers' information confidentially, and the calls are also classified according to the level of seriousness of each case.
"The cases which are in immediate danger are classified in the first level and accepted immediately in the shelter after the interview, and after studying each case, we determine whether the services of the shelter are enough or it needs to be transferred to other suitable place," She added.
Al Basti indicated that the DFWAC is working in close collaboration with various bodies to provide the best means of support and care for the victims, especially with police departments to provide adequate protection, and ensure the safety of the victim and the rapid intervention in case the need arises.
She added that all employees who respond to calls through DFWAC's helpline have been carefully selected and rehabilitated enough to deal professionally with various cases, and to meet the Child Helpline International "CHI" standards, and to answer in all languages deployed within the U.A.E.