Ministry of Human Rights lauches children “help line” so kids can call when Security Forces are gassing them to death

Helpline for 
children 
launched 
in Bahrain
29 December 2011 – Khaleej Times

MANAMA – A new 998 Child Helpline for children was launched in the Children Protection Centre on Tuesday.

The 998 helpline operates in conformity with the strategy of the 109 International Child Helpline all over the world. The 998 Child Helpline operates under the supervision of various government ministries and civil society organisations.

This is the first toll-free helpline to provide direction and guidance to children as well as appropriate options to solve their problems. It helps to uphold children’s rights emanating from the principle of children’s right to survival, building and developing.

Minister of Human Rights and Social Development Dr Fatima Mohammed Al Balushi said that the helpline receives calls from children in distress or whenever there is an imminent danger. The helpline also receives calls from anyone seeking direct intervention and specialist psychiatric guidance, referral, active listening and various other services as per latest scientific studies and recommendations for direct contact between children and intermediaries to prevent the break-up of family. External coaches shall be absorbed for training instructors and social workers in the Children Protection Centre.

The direct helpline adopts various strategies in order to spread awareness including the media.

The minister explained that the helpline breaks the communication gap between the family and the community and boosts children’s rights and builds practical methodology focused on children. It also focuses on a child’s needs and rights in an attempt to see the world through a child’s point of view and work with the child and encourage him/her for participation.

Efforts are also being made to use the points of strength and empower the child to take decisions on their own. …source