185-page Arabic guide addresses violence against children
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Le Matin
An Arabic 185-page guide on violence against children has been developed with more than 20 regional and international experts, including Moroccan specialists. Presented in Sharjah, it covers 17 topics and notably recommends terminology focused on the exploitation suffered by children, according to Le Matin.
The Arabic guide on violence against children recommends using wording that explicitly identifies the exploitation suffered by victims. Presented in Sharjah by the Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation with ECPAT International, the 185-page document covers 17 topics, including technology-facilitated violence, trafficking and child marriage.
The guide distinguishes by colour code between recommended terms, those that depend on context, and those whose use should be limited or avoided. It notably recommends “content depicting sexual abuse of children” rather than “child pornography”, and “sexual exploitation of children in the context of travel and tourism” rather than “child sex tourism”.
The Arabic version was developed over nine months with more than 20 regional and international experts, including Moroccan specialists, to adapt the terms to the legal, cultural and professional frameworks of Arab-speaking countries. Loujane Mourad, director of the Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation, believes these guidelines should help institutions better prevent violence and make appropriate decisions.
In Morocco, Abdellah Soussi, president of the Amal Foundation for Child Protection, wants to integrate the guide into the organisation’s practices. He believes a common vocabulary is necessary from the identification of a situation involving violence, through listening to the child and monitoring their case.
