Kanaf enhances forensic doctors’ skills in child protection

October 29, 2025 / 2:24 PM

Sharjah 24: Kanaf, an interdisciplinary child protection centre, has launched a comprehensive 16-hour training programme to improve forensic doctors' skills in managing child abuse cases. The initiative, organised in partnership with the Sharjah Public Prosecution and Sharjah Courts, aims to unify medical, psychological, and legal approaches to child protection and ensure forensic procedures prioritise the child’s well-being.

Delivered by Dr Bana Yousef Bou-Zubon, a child protection and mental health expert at Child Safety, the programme included three workshops at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels for four participating forensic doctors. It aimed to improve the accuracy and consistency of medical-legal reports, standardise examinations, and strengthen inter-agency coordination between medical and judicial institutions.

Her Excellency Hanadi Al Yafei, Director General of Child Safety and Head of Kanaf’s Supreme Committee, stated: “This programme reflects an integrated approach to unifying medical, legal, and psychological efforts in child protection. The way a forensic examination is conducted—and the first words a doctor says to a child—can define the entire experience.”

Empathy-centred medical examinations

The beginner-level workshop trained doctors to perform examinations with sensitivity towards children’s psychological and emotional states. Participants learned techniques such as using anatomical dolls, active listening, and age-appropriate communication, all aimed at minimising trauma and improving the accuracy of forensic findings.

Enhancing forensic reporting standards

At the intermediate level, participants enhanced their ability to produce clear, evidence-based medical-legal reports that meet judicial standards. The workshop focused on documentation protocols, terminology, and the integration of clinical and psychological findings, reinforcing ethical and legal accountability in forensic practice.

Advanced child interviewing techniques

The advanced workshop focused on safe and structured methods for interviewing children that prevent psychological harm. Doctors learned to use calm, open-ended questions in the Socratic style, offering emotional support and respecting each child’s cultural and social background. The course will end with a final advanced session, bringing the total training hours to 16.

A holistic vision for child protection

Kanaf, established under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, was inaugurated in 2024 and is focused on Child Safety. The centre consolidates legal, medical, and social services under one roof to provide holistic, trauma-informed care for child victims and their families.