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Qatar Foundation for Protection and Social Rehabilitation (QFPSR) has held a workshop, “Protecting students from sexual harassment”, for school specialists. |
Dr Mamoun Mbayedh, consultant psychiatrist, presented the workshop for 40 specialists (social/psychological) from 24 schools in Qatar. The workshop focused on the prevention of school students’ sexual harassment, case identification, addressing mechanisms and referral of those in need to specialised
agencies.
“The information presented in the workshop is for raising awareness on the issue of child protection. Such information gives indicators for sound practice to protect a child from sexual harassment or humiliation,” said Dr Mbayedh, who demonstrated to the attendees percentages of child humiliation in some societies, such as negligence (43%), physical abuse (28%), emotional abuse (28%) and
sexual abuse (10%).
Further, the expert drew the participants’ attention to the importance of protection against harassment through safe behaviour and required skills, rather than focusing on risks, through sound sex education, proper and appropriate relationships, conveying messages to the children for protection from harassment and the role of parents in providing such messages according to the age group.
Dr Mbayedh also dwelled on the mechanisms of identifying a victim of harassment and the ways of getting information from the child, saying: “The child needs to feel safe before disclosing any information and the specialist should determine the suitable timing to inform the family about the child’s situation or opt to maintain undisclosed information if the harasser is one of its members.”
He referred to the steps that need to be followed after finding out about an act of harassment, cases where a child should be referred to, to ensure immediate protection and proper procedures involving the agencies concerned, such as the police or social service providers.
Mohamed Madhi Rashad, a social specialist at Abdullah Ali al-Misnad Independent School, said he benefited greatly from the workshop and lauded the efforts of QFPSR in organising such programmes.
A female social specialist from Al-Bayan School said: “The workshop will help me discover a child’s problems not only through my job in the school, but also at home with my children.”
At the end of the workshop, Dr Mbayedh thanked the attendees for their participation and gave away QFPSR certificates to them.
