P126 Khilāfah (Stewardship) and Fiṭrah (Innate Dignity) Preservation in the Artificial Intelligence Era:

Operationalizing Emotional Harm through Exosystem Empowerment for Child Emotional Resilience in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Contemporary child safeguarding increasingly emphasises prevention and early intervention. However, emotional harm often remains concealed until serious health and social consequences emerge. In Brunei Darussalam, indicators of adolescent vulnerability remain concerning. The Brunei Darussalam 2019 Global School-Based Student Health Survey reported that 19.9% of adolescents had seriously considered attempting suicide, 23.7% experienced bullying, only 21.4% reported parental understanding, and only 43.1% reported consistent parental monitoring. Local research has also identified a high prevalence of childhood emotional abuse among adult respondents. These indicators may signal underlying vulnerabilities that threaten emotional wellbeing, developmental integrity, and resilience.

This concept paper introduces a provisional operational definition of emotional harm as a safeguarding concern requiring early recognition and coordinated intervention. It is part of an ongoing doctoral study to develop and validate an Islamic Social Work Approach (ISWA) prototype for child safeguarding in Brunei Darussalam. The paper argues that child safeguarding systems face challenges in recognising and responding to emotional vulnerabilities before serious harm becomes evident.

In the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era, children increasingly navigate digitally mediated environments shaped by social media algorithms, AI-enabled technologies, cyberbullying, and online victimisation. These environments may amplify, conceal, or accelerate emotional harm, increasing the complexity of safeguarding assessment and intervention.

The study adopts a hybrid research design integrating Design and Development Research (DDR), Mixed Methodology, and Participatory Action Research (PAR), underpinned by a Tawḥīdī worldview and transformative paradigm. Grounded in Khilāfah, informed by the Green Khalifah Leadership Framework (GKL-F), and guided by the principles of Amānah, Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, and Raḥmatan lil-ʿĀlamīn, stewardship is operationalised through Exosystem Empowerment, extending safeguarding accountability across families, professionals, institutions, communities, and government. The study proposes an Islamic safeguarding approach aimed at preserving Fiṭrah, strengthening child emotional resilience, and supporting early safeguarding intervention in the AI era.