12 March 2012
Muscat: Does child maltreatment exist in Oman? There are no statistics to indicate the frequency of such treatment, but according to medical experts at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), child maltreatment does exist in this country.
Prof. Lamk Al Lamki of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at SQU says: "It is possible that in Oman, because of culture, the magnitude of child maltreatment is lower, but such a conclusion would require substantiation by research employing rigorous methodology. Children are deprived of their rights in many ways and it is a universal problem."
The paucity of data on child abuse in Oman, and, for that matter, the rest of the world, hinders the implementation of evidence-based prevention and intervention.
According to Prof. Al Lamki, gathering more data on the prevailing situation in Oman would be an essential first step.
"The Research Council of Oman (TRC) should, perhaps, consider calling for more research on the different types and causes of child abuse in Oman.
TRC has now received, and is considering, one research proposal on this topic. We hope more research studies will be conducted to shed light on the situation in Oman that would have direct bearing on prevention of harm to children, and also lead to the treatment of the adults involved," he said.
The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 and it was the fruit of 10 years of comprehensive negotiations between experts from governments, non-governmental organisations, various advocates of human rights and lawyers, as well as health specialists, social workers, and
educators.
The CRC recognises the rights of all children (persons under 18 years) to develop physically, mentally and socially to their fullest potential, to express their opinions freely, and to participate in decisions affecting their future. It also ensures that they develop their personalities, abilities and talents to the fullest.
The CRC is a legally binding international treaty that incorporates the full range of human rights.
Muscat: Does child maltreatment exist in Oman? There are no statistics to indicate the frequency of such treatment, but according to medical experts at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), child maltreatment does exist in this country.
Prof. Lamk Al Lamki of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at SQU says: "It is possible that in Oman, because of culture, the magnitude of child maltreatment is lower, but such a conclusion would require substantiation by research employing rigorous methodology. Children are deprived of their rights in many ways and it is a universal problem."
The paucity of data on child abuse in Oman, and, for that matter, the rest of the world, hinders the implementation of evidence-based prevention and intervention.
According to Prof. Al Lamki, gathering more data on the prevailing situation in Oman would be an essential first step.
"The Research Council of Oman (TRC) should, perhaps, consider calling for more research on the different types and causes of child abuse in Oman.
TRC has now received, and is considering, one research proposal on this topic. We hope more research studies will be conducted to shed light on the situation in Oman that would have direct bearing on prevention of harm to children, and also lead to the treatment of the adults involved," he said.
The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 and it was the fruit of 10 years of comprehensive negotiations between experts from governments, non-governmental organisations, various advocates of human rights and lawyers, as well as health specialists, social workers, and
educators.
The CRC recognises the rights of all children (persons under 18 years) to develop physically, mentally and socially to their fullest potential, to express their opinions freely, and to participate in decisions affecting their future. It also ensures that they develop their personalities, abilities and talents to the fullest.
The CRC is a legally binding international treaty that incorporates the full range of human rights.
© Times of Oman 2012
