Assessment of mandatory reporting laws to break the silence of child sexual abuse: a case study in the United Arab Emirates

There is a noticeably small amount of research available on child sexual abuse (CSA) in many nations, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which creates many difficulties in ascertaining and addressing the true extent of this crime. Child sexual abuse is an especially repulsive crime, a fact that sometimes makes it very challenging for governments to openly confront and effectively manage it. Despite child sexual abuse affecting all societies, with victims and perpetrators coming from every part of the social and economic spectrum, the many myths and misconceptions that exist can distort the response of families, professionals working with children, and governments. The situation is exacerbated when repressive socio-cultural mores that shape laws and attitudes on gender, sex, marriage, and family honor, impede disclosure, and inhibit open discussion. All these interconnected factors are considered in this analysis which attempts to uncover how UAE has been dealing with child sexual abuse. The UAE is a signatory of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and has recently taken steps to implement and enforce specific rules and guidelines on child’s rights. For example, Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 (‘Wadeema’s Law’) prescribes legal obligations for the mandatory reporting of any suspected cases of child sexual abuse in UAE. This analysis provides an assessment of how some of the practical mechanisms in mandatory reporting can help to create an enabling environment of prevention and intervention of child sexual abuse in the UAE. The lessons and findings can be useful for local citizens as well as other Arab, Middle-Eastern, and Islamic nations as they attempt to prevent child abuse.