Building trust helps protect juveniles from hidden risks

24/09/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 24: The newspaper is highlighting the protection of juveniles component of the prevention and safety awareness campaign that the Interior Ministry launched at the start of the 2026/2027 academic year. This is part of the media partnership between the ministry and the newspaper to address issues concerning juveniles, the risks and behaviors they may encounter and ways to prevent them. It uses a balanced awareness approach involving social and security experts. It aims to protect children, strengthen community partnerships, and instill the concepts of prevention and safety among students and parents, with a plan to evaluate the media impact of this campaign upon its conclusion.

In an interview with the newspaper, Head of the Community Security and Research Unit at the Retired Officers Association, retired Major General Badr Al-Ghadouri stressed that protecting juveniles is a shared responsibility, requiring the integrated efforts of families, schools, competent authorities and the community. He stated that the approach to dealing with juveniles should not focus on wrongdoing and punishment, but rather on protection, prevention, guidance and rehabilitation. Al-Ghadouri said protecting juveniles is vital due to the multitude of influences affecting students inside the school, outside it or within the digital realm. He explained that childhood and adolescence are among the most critical stages for character building and the formation of values and behaviors.

“Detecting warning signs early and addressing them calmly helps protect the juveniles from problems that could affect their families and the community,” he added. He cited bullying, extortion, online grooming, and sudden changes in behavior, academic performance and social relationships as areas requiring attention. He emphasized that protecting children does not mean constant surveillance, as it rather requires striking a balance between monitoring, respecting privacy and building trust. “This ensures the juvenile understands that seeking help and reporting danger is neither shameful nor a sign of weakness, and that prevention must occur before a problem arises, not after,” he added.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Question: Who is considered a juvenile under Kuwaiti law? Why is this stage significant?

Answer: As per Kuwaiti Juvenile Law No. 111/2015, a juvenile is defined as any person who has not yet reached the age of 18. This is an important stage for character development and the shaping of values attitudes and behaviors. Based on security experience in juvenile protection, interactions with a juvenile should not focus on wrongdoing and punishment, but rather on protection, prevention, guidance and rehabilitation. Protecting a juvenile at this stage can spare their family, community and state institutions from more serious problems in the future.

Q: What are the risks and warning signs regarding juveniles?

A: At the start of the academic year, the environment changes. Juveniles move daily between home, school, transportation, social media platforms and peer groups, leading to a multitude of influences and risks. Indicators include sudden behavioral changes, withdrawal, unusual irritability, frequent absences, decline in academic performance, shift in the circle of friends, sleep disturbance, fear of going to school or sudden excessive phone use. However, not every change should be interpreted as a problem or a sign of delinquency. The goal is calm observation and understanding the underlying cause, rather than passing judgment.

Q: Which behaviors might appear minor at first, but worsen if not addressed early?

A: Examples include frequent lying, truancy, associating with bad company, bullying, aggression, online misconduct, experimenting with smoking or harmful substances, and engaging in unsafe online relationships. The issue often is not the initial behavior itself, but in its persistence without understanding the causes or intervening in a timely manner.

Q: Is a sudden change in behavior, relationships or academic performance necessarily a sign of a problem?

A: Not necessarily. It could be linked to a specific developmental stage or to academic or social pressures. If the change is distinct, sudden or prolonged, it warrants understanding and monitoring by both the family and the school. Underlying causes could include bullying, blackmail, online grooming, peer pressure, family issues, the onset of risky behaviors like substance abuse, or an experience that the young person is afraid to disclose. Parents, do not just ask your child, ‘What did you do?’ Ask instead, ‘What happened to you?’ This question can open the door to dialogue and trust, whereas interrogation and accusations may shut that door and drive the young person into silence. Prevention begins with observation, followed by dialogue, and finally, timely intervention.

Q: Given the widespread use of phones and social media, how are minors exploited?

A: Online exploitation can begin with seemingly ordinary interaction—building trust and soliciting personal information, photos or private conversations—before escalating into pressure, threat, blackmail or entrapment. The solution is not to frighten the minor about the internet— as technology is an integral part of their life—but rather to teach them how to use it safely. We want a minor who says, “This behavior is unsafe, I will stop and ask for help,” rather than one who is afraid to tell the family because he anticipates punishment.

Q: Regarding blackmail and bullying, how can families detect these issues—or online grooming—before they escalate?

A: Close relationship and constant observation serve as the first line of defense. Warning signs include sudden fear of the phone or an intense attachment to it, unusual deletion of conversations, agitation upon receiving a notification, withdrawal, sleep disturbance, refusal to attend school or fear of a specific person or online account. Furthermore, online grooming is no longer limited to blackmail and bullying, as it can extend to exploiting minors, influencing them ideologically or recruiting them to carry out acts serving extremist groups or criminal entities. Security agencies recently handled such cases and apprehended the perpetrators, confirming that targeting often begins with what appears to be ordinary communication. Therefore, attention should also be paid to changes in mindset and behavior, such as increased withdrawal, sudden adoption of extremist ideas, receiving instructions from unknown individuals or concealing the nature of online relationships. Nevertheless, protection does not mean random searches or suspicion-based surveillance, as it involves building a trusting relationship in which parents are the primary source of support, teaching children that not everyone who contacts them is a friend, and that seeking help is an act of protection, not a sign of weakness.

Q: What mistakes could parents make when a problem is discovered?

A: The most dangerous mistakes include shouting, making threats, and holding the minor—who is actually a victim— fully responsible. Other harmful actions are broadcasting the issue to relatives and friends, sharing photos or conversations, and making the child feel he is to blame for what happened to him. I remember a case from my own experience where a minor told his father he was sexually assaulted at school. Instead of offering support and protection, the father threw him out of the house, forcing him to stay with a relative. Compounded by the psychological and social trauma and the pressures he faced, the boy eventually drifted into drug use, which escalated into full-blown addiction. This case underscores the fact that a family’s reaction can be a source of protection for the minor, whereas mishandling the situation can complicate the problem and its consequences. The guiding principles I emphasize are as follows: calm down, listen to your child, protect him, preserve evidence and then seek help from the appropriate authorities. In cases of sexual assault specifically, the minor needs protection, support and psychological and social care, not blame or punishment. It is essential to involve the proper authorities rather than attempting to handle the incident haphazardly or exposing the matter publicly. Most importantly, minors must not feel that disclosing what happened is a mistake, as fear of the family’s reaction can drive them to silence, thereby, worsening the problem. If your child comes to you with a problem, do not become a second problem for him, you must be the first to protect him and stand by his side.

Q: Regarding the protection of children, how do we balance protection with respect for their privacy?

A: Protection does not mean constant surveillance and privacy does not mean leaving a minor without guidance. The balance depends on age, level of awareness, and the nature of the risks involved. A child requires closer supervision, whereas an adolescent needs more privacy, balanced with clear rules and agreements with the family. This monitoring should be based on trust and dialogue, rather than constant suspicion.

Q: What role can the school play in early detection?

A: Schools may notice things that families do not, as teachers observe a student’s behavior, interactions with peers, academic performance and attendance patterns. This highlights the importance of activating the roles of social workers and school psychologists. Their work should not be limited to reacting to problems after they occur, but should extend to monitoring, observation and early assessment of cases showing concerning signs. It is essential to build trust among students and encourage them to report issues and seek help from social workers, psychologists or trusted teachers. Clear and confidential channels for reporting, referral and follow up must be established, along with enhanced communication between the school, the family and relevant authorities, while safeguarding the student’s privacy and dignity.The goal is not to pass judgment on the student or treat him as a problem, but rather to understand the underlying behavior and identify the root cause. Early detection and reporting can prevent minor issues from escalating and empower the students to play an active role in their own protection—knowing when they are in danger, whom to turn to and how to ask for help.

Q: What should be done when a student hesitates to seek help for fear of punishment?

A: We must convey a clear message: “If you face a problem, tell us without hesitation; do not keep it hidden.” They need to understand that reporting blackmail, bullying, grooming or any other danger is neither shameful nor a sign of weakness. Sometimes, a young person in a difficult situation needs an adult to say, “I am with you, we will handle this together,” more than they need advice.

Q: What are the most common misconceptions regarding the protection of young people? Who bears the responsibility for their protection? Why is it important to raise their awareness about their rights?

A: One major misconception is the belief that protecting young people applies only to juvenile delinquents. In reality, prevention encompasses all young people, as a youth might be the victim of a problem rather than the perpetrator. Furthermore, severity alone does not prevent wrongdoing. While upbringing requires firmness, it also demands dialogue, trust and a supportive environment. Protecting young people is a shared responsibility: the family plays the primary role, the school is a key partner, and security agencies must fulfill their duties regarding prevention, protection and law enforcement. Meanwhile, the media contributes to raising awareness and society bears the responsibility of not ignoring behaviors that put young people at risk. Thus, the focus must shift from asking “Who is responsible?” to “How can we cooperate?” Educating young people about their rights and the boundaries of appropriate interaction with others empowers them to protect themselves. It enables them to recognize their right to refuse any behavior that makes them uncomfortable, to seek help, and to not let anyone threaten, blackmail or exploit them.

Q: How should a family handle a situation where a minor is at risk? What are the most common forms of online luring? What kind of awareness campaign is appropriate for their age?

A: Upon discovering that a minor is at risk, the family should remain calm and composed. They should listen to the minor, giving him opportunity to speak, while ensuring hi safety and removing him from the source of danger. Evidence should be preserved before contacting the relevant authorities, depending on the nature of the case, especially in online cases. Messages, accounts or conversation logs should not be deleted before seeking advice. At the same time, it is crucial to avoid threats, physical punishment, public shaming, or disclosing details of the problem. One should also avoid rashly confronting the other party or holding the minor responsible for what he experienced. Online luring is not limited to blackmail and bullying, it can extend to ideological influence or exploitation by extremist groups or criminal entities. This necessitates paying close attention to behavioral and intellectual changes, as well as the nature of online interactions with strangers. Also, awareness efforts must be tailored to the age and level of understanding of the minors. Younger children need stories, scenarios, illustrations and simplified examples, whereas adolescents need realistic situations, open dialogue and decisionmaking training to enhance their ability to protect themselves and act correctly when facing danger.

Q: What is your message to the minor, the family, the school and the community?

A: To the young person I say: Trust yourself, respect your own boundaries and those of others, and do not allow anyone to exploit your fear or hesitation. If you encounter an anxietyinducing situation or feel you are at risk, do not wait for the problem to escalate, instead, take the initiative to seek help from someone you trust. To families: Get closer to your children, listen to them before passing judgment, and make dialogue a daily habit so they feel the family is their primary refuge and source of safety when facing any problem. To schools: Monitor behavioral and academic changes, activate the roles of social workers and psychologists, and build bridges of trust with students to encourage them to report issues and seek help early on. The society must realize that protecting young people is a shared responsibility -- one that does not fall solely on the family, the school or the Ministry of Interior. It requires the cooperation of everyone and the refusal to ignore any behavior that could put them at risk. Prevention begins before a problem arises through a family that listens, a school that observes, a young person who knows how to protect himself and seek help, and an aware society that does not ignore warning signs. Thus, “Prevention and Safety” is not just a slogan linked to the start of the school year, it is a culture and a practice that must continue to detect risks early and prevent problems from escalating.

By Munif Naif Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff