Sharjah: Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, praised the UAE’s wise leadership for ensuring the rights of children and supporting patients with cancer.
Shaikha Jawaher, who is the chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, extended her profound thanks to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for their ongoing commitment to both groups of people, who each require support and assistance in different ways.
Shaikha Jawaher’s tributes coincided with the issuance of Federal Law No 3 of 2016 on child rights, also known as ‘Wudeema’s Law’, by Shaikh Khalifa, as well as the announcement by the Ministry of Health and Prevention to implement the Cabinet’s initiative for the early detection of the three common types of cancer — breast cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer.
She stressed that the UAE has made great strides in the area of child protection thanks to the support of the leadership, which has issued this law to combine the local legal framework with international treaties and conventions on child rights.
“The issuance of the child rights law was one of the most important demands called for by the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and Children’s Centres. This demand stems from our firm belief in the law’s significant role in ensuring the safety of our children’s growth and providing them with the appropriate environment and protection against all forms of discrimination, including those based on gender and disability. The law is imperative to ensure that children are provided with protection, including non-discrimination and the prohibition of corporal punishment, or any form of inhumane treatment,” Shaikha Jawaher said.
Shaikha Jawaher said that she appreciated the efforts made by the Ministry of Health and Prevention to put the wise leadership’s vision into practice with regard to raising awareness about cancer. “These efforts include the provision of screening tests for early detection of the disease — a move that comes within the country’s comprehensive strategy that aims to ensure a healthy life for every member of the UAE community.”
She said that Sharjah has dedicated significant energy to the fight against cancer at the nation-wide level. These efforts have seen the launch of numerous initiatives, most notably the Friends of Cancer Patients and the Pink Caravan.
