Child Abuse Reports Decline in January, Ministry Says

The number of child abuse cases reported in January declined compared to December last year, according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

The Ministry recorded 85 cases of child abuse in December 2025. In January 2026, the figure fell to 64 cases, representing a decrease of 21 cases.

Neglect remained the most commonly reported form of abuse, with 30 cases documented in January. The Ministry also recorded 13 cases of sexual assault, eight cases involving exposure to domestic violence, seven cases of psychological harm and four cases of physical harm during the month.

As of January this year, 151 children were under state care, comprising 83 boys and 68 girls.

The Ministry’s helplines continued to receive a high volume of calls. More than 2,200 calls were recorded in January. The child helpline 1412 received 1,964 calls, including 97 from children. More than 1,600 calls were made by adults, while 216 calls were anonymous.