Guide for professionals on child violence

The High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Haïry, has released a guide to help professionals identify early signs of violence against children and properly receive their testimonies. The guide was developed with the High Authority for Health and various associations, aiming to improve detection and response mechanisms.

Warning signs and indicators

The guide outlines behavioral, physical, or academic signs that may indicate a child is experiencing violence. These include recurring injuries, sudden isolation, persistent sadness, excessive anxiety, sleep disturbances, and changes in school performance or engagement.

Welcoming a child's testimony

When a child voluntarily shares experiences of violence, the guide emphasizes the importance of active listening, remaining calm, and allowing the child to speak without interruption. It advises against questioning the child and instead encourages recording their words accurately and referring them to legal authorities.

Training for professionals

A free six-hour training module will be available on the Ministry of Health's website, aiming to unify professional approaches and help detect individuals who target children. This training is part of a larger effort to combat child violence through both education and legal measures.

Legal and safety measures

The guide is part of broader legal efforts, including a law against violence against women and children that features a specialized prosecutor's office for child-related crimes. The High Commissioner also stressed the need to check the background of those working with children, with over 8,000 certificates revoked in the sector.

Concerns about AI and online content

El Haïry raised concerns about the risks of AI for children, especially conversational AI that may manipulate them into sharing personal information. She also criticized the "True Crime Community" movement on social media, urging platforms to take responsibility for the content they host.