Register of abuse fiends

A register of child abusers is set to be produced in Bahrain in a bid to prevent sex fiends from applying for jobs which bring them within striking distance of youngsters.

Concerned companies, organisations and even individuals looking to recruit staff would be able to check that the individual seeking employment had not hidden a shady past.
The aim is to limit the opportunity child abusers have of obtaining any job which brings them into close contact with young people.
Various government sectors such as the Health Ministry, Interior Ministry, Public Prosecution – as well as a number of judges – are studying the proposal. If approved the information would become available to the public, said Dr Fadheela Al Mahroos, Bahrain Centre for Child Protection chairman and Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) Child Protection Committee chairman.
She said: “The registry is aimed at protecting children from sexual or physical abusers.
“Through our professional experience we have noticed that child offenders who have completed their jail sentence try to get jobs that involves being around children.  Many of them apply for jobs such as school bus drivers or school watch guards or even cleaners just to be near the little ones.
“Imagine having a child abuser in the same place where your child is – I don’t think any parent would want that. These are dangerous people who will take the first opportunity they get to abuse children again.
“With this registry any individual or company planning to hire anyone can call us to inquire if that person has a record of being a child abuser, or not. The only answer we will give them will be a yes or a no, with no further details.”
Dr Al Mahroos said the registry would be kept at the centre and judges would ensure it was up-to-date and accurate. “It is a well-known fact that child sex abusers know how to lure little ones, so it is essential to keep these men away from the children,” she added.

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By Farishta Saeed
farishtasaeed@gmail.com