Family Ministry records 85 child abuse cases in December, with neglect the most reported

A total of 85 cases involving various forms of child abuse were reported to the Ministry of Social and Family Development in December last year, according to the ministry’s monthly statistics.

Negligence was the most frequently reported issue, with 25 cases recorded. Fourteen of the victims were girls, while 14 were boys, and one case was filed without identifying the child’s gender.

Physical abuse was the second most common category, with 15 cases reported, 13 involving boys and two involving girls.

The ministry also received 14 cases of sexual assault, 11 cases involving children witnessing or being shown acts of domestic violence, and six cases of mental abuse.

Other reports included three cases of online harassment by other children, two cases of intimidation or blackmail, two cases of sexual grooming of minors, two cases of verbal insults, one case of exploitation, and one case of abandonment.

In total, 40 cases involving girls, 44 involving boys, and one case of gender indisclosed were reported to the ministry in December.