Initiatives and projects that have guaranteed children’s rights in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates attaches the highest priority to the care of children, their protection and the provision of a decent, healthy and sound living for them, considering that they are the wealth of the future and the nucleus of development that the State seeks to achieve global leadership. It has adopted laws, regulations and initiatives that ensure the protection of children and the provision of life, survival and development to them.
In its unique approach, the UAE has taken care of their health, education and future development through promising plans and initiatives that will lead their future lives. What are the most prominent initiatives and legislation that the State has worked on, to care for and protect children and to support their rights?.
UAE Children’s Day
In 2017, the “Children’s Day” was adopted at the directives of the President of the General Women’s Union and the President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the President of the Family Development Foundation, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, with the aim of raising awareness among all groups of society of the rights of children so that they can grow in a healthy, safe and supportive environment that contributes to developing all their abilities and skills, which benefits the society of the UAE as a whole.
Early childhood law
To this end, the Early Childhood Act was promulgated, the National Council for Early Childhood Development was developed, along with the Early Childhood Service Package and the Unified File for each child.
Communication initiative
The Ministry of Community Development has also launched several initiatives related to child care, including: An intelligent app-based communication initiative helps children with communication problems, autistic children communicate by taking pictures, and help them express their needs and interact with the environment.
Growth initiative
The Ministry has also launched an intelligent application to detect children under five years of age who are in a state of developmental backwardness early, refer them to the Emirates Early Intervention Program, conduct a comprehensive assessment of their condition and provide them with appropriate rehabilitation or family services, which it calls a growth initiative.
Child protection unit
The Ministry of Education has launched the “Child Protection Unit” initiative, which includes public and private school students at the state level. The initiative aims to protect children from all kinds of abuse, neglect and exploitation in the surrounding environment, whether at school or at home, and to protect students’ physical, psychological and educational well-being.
“Internal” initiatives
The Ministry of the Interior established the Higher Committee for Child Protection in 2009 and the Ministry of the Interior Center for Child Protection in 2011 to develop, implement and regulate initiatives and procedures aimed at providing safety, security and protection to all children living in the Emirates or visitors to the Emirates.
The State has adopted several measures and legislation to ensure the highest quality in nurseries, which are properly equipped to meet the needs of children and stimulate their physical, intellectual, emotional and social development.
Free education
The United Arab Emirates provides free education to citizens in schools, colleges and universities, in accordance with article 17 of the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates and article 1 of Federal Law No. 11 of 1972 on compulsory education. Education is a fundamental factor for the progress of society and is compulsory at primary level and free of charge at all levels within the Federation.
