FNC panel to review Wadeema law

Abu Dhabi, Jan 13, 2012 (WAM) - The Federal National Council (FNC) during its session that was held last Tuesday has approved referral of a federal draft law named (Wadeema) to the Health, Labour, and Social Affairs Committee of the Council. The law will regulate rights of children and all relevant areas that ensure a safe and stable life for them and protect them from abuse and neglect. The law stipulates penalties to be applied on anyone who commits any act against a child affecting him/her psychologically, physically, emotionally, morally and socially. According to the explanatory bill of the draft law, the government has prepared such a law to eternise the name of Wadeema, the 8-year-old girl, whose father and his girlfriend are on trial for her murder. They are accused of burning Wadeema and her sister Mira with irons and cigarettes, pouring boiling water on them, beating them and using a stun gun on them. The first died suffering from the torture while her younger sister, Mira, survived. All children without discrimination have the right to live in a secure life in a stable environment with constant care and protection from any risk or abuse. The child’s interest has the priority to any other interest and provision of their basic needs and rights is a duty which the country is keen on fulfilling it through the best ways, the bill added. The draft law contained 72 articles in 12 chapters which included definitions, the objectives assigned to concerned authorities and stakeholders and general provisions, in addition to basic needs of the child, family, health, social, cultural and educational rights, right of protection, mechanisms and measures of protection, and the penalties. – The Gulf Today