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a comprehensive set of guidelines has been drawn up so as to streamline the handling of child abuse cases by multi-disciplinary teams of professionals. These guidelines are kept under constant review to take account of changing circumstances. A new set of procedures focusing on the handling of child sexual abuse cases was introduced in March this
year;
the SWD has enhanced the resources in the Child Protective Services Unit and the Clinical Psychological Unit and will continue to do so to strengthen protection and treatment for the children involved in abuse cases; and
we shall continue to organise training programmes conducted by overseas experts for social workers, clinical psychologists and police officers to enhance their skills in handling child abuse cases.
For preventive purposes,
a territory-wide publicity campaign to educate the public on early identification and reporting of child abuse cases was conducted in 1995. The second campaign on prevention of child sexual abuse commenced in April this year, with the first phase devoted to teaching young children how to protect themselves, to be followed by a second phase towards the end of this year which will concentrate on promoting parents' awareness and proper handling of child sexual abuse cases;
to promote awareness and understanding of child abuse and to provide a forum for professionals of different disciplines to examine and tackle the problem at district level, more District Committees on Child Abuse will be set up so that by late 1996 each of the thirteen districts of the SWD will have such a committee; and
in addition to the initiatives described above, we shall strengthen our network of services to support the family and to prevent the emergence of family problems such as child abuse. These include family life education programmes, services provided by family activity and resource centres, child care and family aide services.