Child protection and safeguarding seminar

Abu Dhabi University, 2020

Participants’ Handout

Dear participant,
Please read and remember these key notes about child protection and safeguarding.
1. Child protection and safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone.

2. Child protection and safeguarding means protecting children from abuse, and
identifying and stopping abuse that is already happening.

3. Abuse is a deliberate act of ill-treatment that can harm a child’s safety, well-being and
development.

4. Abuse can be physical, emotional, and sexual or neglect.

5. Physical abuse is hurting a child through physical, violent and aggressive means and
is never accidental, such as hitting, burning, or poisoning. Some signs of physical abuse
include bruises, swelling and burns.

6. Emotional abuse is the sustained maltreatment or neglect of the emotional needs of a

child. Examples of emotional abuse include: threatening, bullying, and mocking. Some
signs of emotional abuse include lacking social skills or having few friendships.

7. When a child is sexually abused, it means that they have been forced or manipulated
into taking part in sexual activities. Some signs of sexual abuse include the use of sexual
language inappropriate for their age or fearing to be alone with certain people.

8. Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs. There are four main forms
of child neglect: Emotional, medical, educational, and physical. Some signs of neglect
include turning up to school without lunch or money for food, or poor hygiene.

9. Taking action and reporting child abuse can save lives. Remember that children are
vulnerable to being abused and in most cases, they can’t protect themselves. Therefore,
it’s our role to step up and make sure that children are always safe and protected.

Kindest regards,