Underage children left alone at home
I recently discovered that some neighborhood children were being left alone after school for about 3-4 hours until a parent arrived home from work. The kids are aged 6 and 3.
Needless to say I was/am aghast, as are other neighbors who have learnt of this. The parent refused my offer to have the kids come to my house after school, despite learning that on at least one occasion the kids left the house and went swimming all by themselves.
I've asked around and cannot find out any info about a Family Service dept here in Qatar -- some sort of authority that would be willing to step in and explain to the parents WHY this is SO TERRIBLY UNSAFE.
Does anyone know the contact number of such an agency? Are there any laws here in Qatar about leaving such YOUNG CHILDREN alone? I know local etiquette is such that family issues are kept private and they don't like to intervene, but c'mon...there has to be a line somewhere.
I had thought this was an isolated occurence until another friend told me that last year she had a colleague who had left her FOUR YEAR OLD alone at home because she hadn't secured a caretaker for him for the day, and her boss said she couldn't bring them into work.
Honestly...what are these mothers THINKING?
Nobody is supposed to do it this way. Kids are not to be left alone in a house or flat till their parents comes back from their Offices. I think those parents will be in trouble if the Police Department comes to know about such torture.
There is a juvenile office in Haloul Street maybe they are the right authority for this matter. Coming from C-Ring Road turn left to Muntazah Petrol station going to Mamoura, from C Ring road it is two round about to the right side. Check them out, they might be of help.
I was able to get this number for the Women and Children protection services here - 4679444. I will try calling them -- although others I have asked have not said good things about them re: their being able to do anything positive that would help a situation.
Of course, being a mother too, and live to these kind of neighbors next door, you should be worried. I don't know if this website---> http://www.scfa.gov.qa/english.asp
can help you. Anyway, while in good fate you offered your assistance to them but they refused. I don't know, better late than never? good luck!
you are right.
The Qatari Institution for Child and Woman Protection may do the job, or contact Department of Welfare.
This seems to be common here. A lady in our building does this too. She has a 15 month old and a 3 yo and she leaves with her hubby in the evenings to go out and socialise. Her excuse she doesnt want to disturb their sleep, go figure. I have repeatedly talked to her about not doing this, even though we had two fire scares in our bulding. I managed to get her to cut down her outings and requested a key off her, incase theres a fire or something, at least i can get these kids out. I wish there was some Government service here for the welfare of these kids. Im shocked anyone would do this..
Despite your offer to watch over her kids and the mother refusing, I personally believe these parents do not have the right to be parents at all. You are right, these very young kids are in peril being left alone for even a minute or an hour. Kids are kids. They don't know what's safe and not, or what's wrong or not. Children have the right to be protected and kept safe.Being a mother, too, this really saddens me. I think there should be a government office here that would handle these cases.