Youngsters discuss need to enforce children's rights

Dubai: In a unique exercise to voice their concerns and opinions, children of various ages took centre stage yesterday at the Child Rights Conference, which was inaugurated by Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture.

During the first day of the two-day conference, organised by the Community Development Authority (CDA), children from various schools discussed children's right to education and knowledge and their psychological, physical and development rights.

Leading role

Mohammad Abdul Kareem, an Emirati high school student, made a presentation about the UAE's leading role in supporting children all over the world. He cited humanitarian initiatives such as Dubai Cares, Noor Dubai and the million books challenge as examples.

"Children learn by example, and in the character of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, they see a great role model of a charitable and humanitarian leader," he said.

Emirati student Na'emah Juma Al Ka'abi discussed the role of the media and how to protect children from its negative influence.

"The media affects children's ideology, psychology, health and security," Na'emah said. "The foreign programmes children watch can have very harmful effects. They can shake their religious faith and affect their beliefs and harm their national loyalty," she said.

"Television violence can also cause children to become insensitive to bloody scenes, or even try to re-enact some of the scenes they see, which ultimately cause them injury or even death," she added. Protecting children from medical malpractice was the topic discussed by Sarah Ahmad Al Marzouqi, while school nutrition was the subject of concern for Ameenah Khalil Ebrahim, who said obesity among schoolchildren can be attributed to the unhealthy food served in school canteens, and asked for better family education in this regard.

Manal Ebrahim discussed adoption as a means to provide abandoned or orphaned children with a new family. She explained the difference between adoption, which is banned in Islam, and fostering and raising a child, which is highly encouraged.

She also urged the auth-orities to follow up the cases of fostered children to make sure they are happy with their new families.

Ammar Khalid, a Syrian student, talked about protecting children from wars and the role of child rights organisations in this field.