UAE gives special care to children: Al Roumi

Abu Dhabi: The U.A.E. yesterday joined the world community in celebrating Universal Children's Day 2013, being held this year under the banner "Stop Violence Against Children". On the occasion, Mariam bint Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, said the U.A.E. had signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1996 and the child is awarded special status in a series of national legislations, from the U.A.E. constitution and juvenile delinquent law, social security law, nursery law, penal code and personal status law, to the disabled persons law. She noted the creation of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood under the leadership of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women's Union and of the Family Development Foundation, was one of the milestones in the protection, development and welfare of children. ''The ministry is supervising 396 nurseries where children are receiving comprehensive care as per conditions set out by the ministry,'' she said, adding there are 35 nurseries in public sector institutions. She said that her ministry's strategic plan 2014-2017 features several initiatives, especially programmes targeting orphans, children with disabilities and those with unknown parents. The ministry, she affirmed, had enacted the Wadema law, a child protection law named after the tragic death of an 8-year old girl, Wadema, who was buried in the desert after being tortured. Universal Children's Day is celebrated on 20th November every year with the purpose of promoting international togetherness and awareness among children. The day is an occasion celebrated to promoting the welfare of children. Universal Children's Day was established in 1954. November 20th is also a special day, as this was the day that the Declaration of the Rights of the Children was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1959 and later, in 1989, the Convention of the Rights of the Child was adopted by the UN General Assembly. For the last decade, this Convention is said to be an important tool for promoting the rights of children all over the world. – Emirates News Agency, WAM