UAE's first ever NGO solely for children's rights announced

Dubai: An initiative to create the first local non governmental organisation for the rights of children was announced on Thursday.

Mooza Shomi, Director of the Children's department at the Ministry of Social Affair, said initial approval has been granted for the first NGO in the country which will only deal with protecting the rights of children.

The NGO, under the name of Mohammad Bin Khalid Al Nahyan for future generation, aims to spread awareness on children's rights and provide all means of support for children in difficulty.

The announcement was made during a seminar that discussed the Draft of the UAE's first Child law. The Ministry of Social Affairs which have drafted the law have asked all concerned bodies with children's affairs to submit their suggestions on the draft before passing on the law to the cabinet. The deadline for suggestions is November 30.

Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, said although UAE laws, such as the health and labour law, include articles which specifically deal with children, there is however a need to legislate a child law. The law will be applied to each child living in the country and not only UAE nationals.

"The convention on the Rights of the Child has served as a base to draft the UAE child law but we have at the same time drafted the law in accordance to the UAE culture and tradition," said Al Roumi.

Accountability

The UAE signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1996 but with reservations on some its articles.

However, till now the convention has not been ratified by the UAE. The convention aims to protect children's rights by setting standards in health care, education, legal, civil and social services and countries that ratify it will commit themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community.

The UAE draft child law's main aim is to protect the child's right for existence, development and to enjoy a free, safe and developed life.

The proposed law includes articles that stipulate that the UAE should have a specialised children's judge when looking into cases of violence against children.

Do you know of any other NGO from your home town? What were their best practices?