Child abuse cases registered by a government run centre in Bahrain have increased by more than 300 per cent since 2007.

Latest figures released by the Social Development Ministry shows that the Child Protection Centre in Gudaibiya has received growing numbers of complaints, including sexual abuse, physical and psychological mistreatment and extreme negligence, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Ministry under-secretary for social welfare and rehabilitation Badriya Al Jeeb highlighted the issue during a forum on human trafficking yesterday, which was held at the Golden Tulip Bahrain.

Al Jeeb said the centre registered 370 cases this year compared to 257 last year and 86 in 2007.

She added that the national child helpline, 998, aided in dealing with 62 cases.

The toll-free hotline is linked to the centre and also offers support to children facing academic and domestic problems.

Al Jeeb said through the hotline they received three sexual abuse cases, fifteen physical abuse and a staggering 37 related to social problems faced by children.

During her presentation at the forum, she compared the figures to last year's numbers which included four cases related to sexual abuse, 10 to physical mistreatment and 28 connected to social problems. - TradeArabia News Service