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Last update - 00:00 12/09/2008 Reports of child abuse nearly doubled in past decade By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Rose Pizem, Israel  The number of victims of child abuse reported to the welfare services has nearly doubled over the past decade. This emerges from figures delivered to the Knesset Thursday by Yitzhak Kadman, Executive Director the National Council for the Child. Data collected from welfare bureaus show 41,000 reports of child abuse in 2007, compared to 21,000 in 1997. Some 3,000 more reports were registered in 1997 compared to the previous year, representing an eight percent increase. Kadman called upon the government to "formulate a special emergency plan on the basis of this document, and not to content itself with tongue wagging." Sunday was what might be called "Rose Pizem Day" at the Knesset. Three committees held two discussions of the murder of children by their parents. There was a surprising development in the discussions when the national supervisor for children's affairs at the Welfare and Social Services Ministry, Hannah Slutzky, accused the police of deviating from the accepted procedures in the case of the child Rose. Advertisement Throughout the affair it was claimed that the police did not embark on an investigation because the procedures require a complaint from a family member or a court order in a case of disappearance. According to Slutzky, she discovered that the police have a regulation that necessitates accepting a complaint from any citizen concerning the disappearance of a child up to the age of 12. "They did not follow this procedure and they are not following it. They are not prepared to accept complaints from social workers. In the case of the child Rose, the police insisted that the grandmother complains." The result: Even though the first complaint in the matter of Rose was registered on August 3, the investigation began only on August 12. "When we brought this matter before the police it seemed to me that they, too, are not familiar with the procedure," stressed Slutzky. The Knesset's Research and Information Center prepared a file of data of its own in advance of the discussions. From this it emerges that about half the 283 children who stayed at emergency centers (hostels for children at risk) in 2006 were children of immigrants. In the committee discussions, the head of the Welfare Services Department at the Absorption Ministry, Sarah Cohen, called for "being careful not to make a connection between the murder cases and immigrants," and noted that in the two cases of drowning of children, the mothers were veteran immigrants who had come to Israel in 1993 and 1997. However, the chair of the Council of Immigrant Associations in Israel, Shoshana Ron, said that it is impossible not to relate to the fact that "these are new immigrants. For me they are new." Related articles: Child-abuse hotlines see spike in calls as the search for Rose continues Police investigates severe child abuse in Tiberias Parents of 3-year-old disabled child arrested for allegedly abusing, burning daughter Bookmark to del.icio.us   Signs of al-Qaida Is the global terror network behind the deadly attacks in Mumbai? Denying Nazi links 104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan.   1.   Reports of Child abuse has increased 07:25  |  Millicent 12/09/08   2.   It Took A While But Finally Haaretz Publishes A Article 07:42  |  Joseph.E 12/09/08   3.   Abused children who have-no-voice... 08:32  |  Esther 12/09/08   4.   Where are the Rabbis who throw women off buses? 14:48  |  Petra 12/09/08   5.   # 3 Esther, perhaps the women should protest, picket? 14:59  |  Petra 12/09/08   6.   stories behind the statistics 21:09  |  Miss 27/11/08

Read & React Israel sends medical team to Mumbai as death toll climbs to 125 Responses: 198 Mazuz: Olmert indictment possible in Rishon Tours scandal Responses: 43 Ari Shavit: While the Palestinian track fails, let's focus on Syria Responses: 33 Israel Harel: Defense establishment gives enemy hope that Israel's end is near Responses: 33 More Headlines 21:59 Indian officials: 8 captives freed from Mumbai Chabad center 19:03 Yossi Melman / Is al-Qaida behind the Mumbai terror attacks? 16:49 'I just grabbed the baby and ran,' says Mumbai Chabad employee 15:24 Iran missile launch into space was 'publicity stunt,' Israeli experts say 20:58 104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan 21:18 Body of one-day-old baby found in Be'er Sheva dumpster 17:14 Pope to make rare visit to Israel in May, following months of Jewish-Catholic tension 03:07 Who stole Hitler's golden bookmark? 16:03 Ultra-Orthodox MK Ravitz announces retirement from Knesset 04:25 IDF rejects claims it killed Palestinians in defiance of court 14:02 Livni urges Olmert to take leave as threat of indictment looms 07:08 ANALYSIS / What it means: the path to indicting Olmert 07:18 Palestinian power struggle may bar pilgrims from visiting Mecca 07:41 Israel Harel / Defense establishment gives enemy hope that Israel's end is near 10:01 Court ruling sees IDF targeted assassinations as last resort 02:25 Likud MKs tell Netanyahu: Ignore far-right elements in party Previous Editions Select Day 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov

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