Abu Dhabi: Initiatives that promote the wellness and development of mothers and children across the world will now be recognised by the Fatima Bint Mubarak Motherhood and Childhood Awards, which were launched in the capital today (November 20).
The awards will be distributed in 10 different categories, and a committee has been formed to develop criteria for each of them.
The announcement was made at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Motherhood and Childhood Forum, which was organised by the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC) on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day. The SCMC promotes maternal and childhood development across the UAE.
The day-long forum gathered nearly 300 champions of childhood development, and attendees heard from government officials and international experts on how policies can impact children’s growth and wellbeing.
In an address to attendees, Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation President of the SCMC and president of SCMC, said improving the lives of children is a joint responsibility of all members of the society.
“I strongly believe that providing children with a good environment, supportive family and friends and security and safety will allow them to develop into virtuous, faithful and committed members of society. We must also prioritise the intellectual and social wellness of children, which promotes creativity and confidence in young people,” she added.
Speaking at the forum, Queen Silvia of Sweden stressed that children should be kept safe from violence of all kinds.
“Children are agents of change, and their minds are not yet limited by norms and limitations. They are capable of much innovation and development, but we need to make sure that the child is safe and that their childhood filled with joy, love, curiosity and play,” she said.
According to details revealed by speakers, nearly one billion children around the world faced violence in their communities and homes last year (2015).
“[We have come far] in how we perceive children as actors in their own right, but looking at the state of the world today, it is easy to despair. Many children women still die [prematurely] and suffer, and many more do not reach their full potential. But we [must realise that] we need our children as they need us, and that education is the most powerful vehicle for positive change that can break vicious cycles of poverty and discrimination,” she said.
The queen was awarded for her contributions to child safety with the Fatima Bint Mubarak Motherhood and Childhood Award. Shaikha Fatima’s efforts to ensure the well-being of mothers and children were also recognised by the United Nations Population Fund.
The forum was also attended by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Culture and Knowledge Development, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, and Shaikha Shamma Al Mazroui, Minister of State for Youth. A group of 23 Emirati children who excel in a variety of fields, including poetry, TV presenting, innovation, academics and sports, also outlined their achievements till date, and envisioned their hopes for the future.
Fatima Bint Mubarak Award for Motherhood and Childhood: Categories
Health initiative for mothers
Health initiative for children
Early education initiative
Children’s protection initiative
Children’s awareness initiative
Research on motherhood and childhood
Initiative for mothers and children with special needs
Nursery
Child-friendly entity
Outstanding global role in motherhood and childhood
