UAE presents report to Committee on Rights of the Child

GENEVA, 17th September 2015 (WAM) --- The Committee on the Rights of the Child at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has concluded its consideration of the second periodic report of the United Arab Emirates on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Presenting the report to the committee at the OHCHR, head of the UAE delegation, Hussain Saeed Al Sheikh, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Care at the Ministry of Social Affairs, said that the United Arab Emirates continued to strengthen the protection of the rights of the child by enacting national legislation and updating strategies. A national strategy to ensure mother and child wellbeing in line with the Convention had been developed. It included protection, participation and development of children and aimed to protect children from all forms of violence and mistreatment. Since its foundation, the country had worked tirelessly to invest in human beings through allocating funds for State programmes, whilst recognising the key role of international cooperation to deliver quality work. The UAE Ministerial Committee on Legislative Matters completed its discussion of the Children’s Rights Bill. The bill contains 72 articles on subjects such as child care, children’s rights and the entities responsible for monitoring children’s rights. The bill regulates the exercise of children’s freedoms and rights, including family, health, cultural, social and educational rights. It also covers a number of prohibitions designed to protect children as well as mechanisms and measures for providing such protection and penalties for violation of the provisions of the bill. The UAE delegation to the two-day interactive dialogue included Ambassador Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, and representatives from federal and local government bodies and civil society organisations operating in the UAE. Hussain Saeed Al Sheikh said that the United Arab Emirates had complied with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child since joining the Convention on 15th December 1996, and had become successful in developing and implementing relevant policies and programmes. Since its foundation in 1971, the country had worked tirelessly to invest in human beings through allocating funds and programmes under the motto of "We wish to be among the best of the world". The Government had provided one of the best education and health care systems in the world. He noted that the UAE's national strategy for motherhood and childhood encompasses four aspects of the rights of children: the right to life, development, protection and participation. The strategy, he noted, is a major reference for Emirati decision makers who seek to provide a safe environment for all children and juveniles where they have access to health services, education opportunities, capacity-building, effective involvement in issues affecting them, protection from violence, exploitation and harm. The He added that the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Matters completed its discussion of the Children’s Rights Bill. The bill which was passed by the Federal National Council contains 72 articles on subjects such as child care, children’s rights and the entities responsible for monitoring children’s rights. The bill regulates the exercise of children’s freedoms and rights, including family, health, cultural, social and educational rights. It also covers a number of prohibitions designed to protect children as well as mechanisms and measures for providing such protection and penalties for violation of the provisions of the bill. The 2011 Human Development Report published by the United Nations Development Programme had given the State a positive ranking, placing it in the thirtieth position out of the 187 States covered by the report and the first among the Arab States. The report showed that the State had achieved real progress in respecting the Human Development Index’s measure of gender equality, obtaining the thirty-eighth place worldwide in respect of the Women’s Empowerment Index. Further, the country had worked hard towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, making progress in reducing poverty and deprivation, as well as reducing the mortality rate among new-borns and children under the age of five. In order to achieve further economic and social development, as well as to guarantee promotion and protection of human rights, the United Arab Emirates recognised the key role of international cooperation. In terms of ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms, Mr Al Sheikh noted that it was an ongoing process, underlining that the Government had strengthened the work of national institutions in cooperation with all relevant partners. The Ministry of Social Affairs had also developed a national strategy to ensure mother and child wellbeing in line with the Convention, particularly in the protection, participation and development of children. In that regard, decision makers in the country had targeted to protect children from all forms of violence and to ensure that current measures were implemented to eliminate any kind of mistreatment. For instance, the Ministry had set up a campaign called "Together against children’s mistreatment", which aimed at educating parents and teachers. Turning to awareness raising on the rights of the child, the UAE delegation explained that there had been a number of initiatives launched by the Ministry of Justice accessible on its website. The Ministry of Education had provided several trainings and workshops to teachers within the context of the "Know Your Rights" campaign. Regarding the relationship with partners, a delegate noted that there had been an excellent relationship between his country and civil society organisations, United Nations agencies, and national actors. For instance, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Arab Emirates had been working together to mitigate the sufferings of refugees, especially children. Also, there had been several reports and stories, published by civil society organisations, targeting awareness raising for children. The Supreme Council was drawing up a priority-based plan of action to ensure that children with disabilities enjoyed all their rights, including integration in society and in mainstream schools. The Council was also working to improve the existing systems in the lights of the best available international practices. The project was being implemented in collaboration with the Ministries and bodies concerned with children with disabilities in the United Arab Emirates. The Federal Juvenile Justice Bill was designed to ensure the protection and care of juveniles by providing legal protection to safeguard their interests in all court proceedings, legislative and administrative procedures and measures. In conclusion, Mr Al Sheikh stated that the UAE was very committed and proud to deliver quality work, and it would continue to promote and protect the values and the rights of children. He stressed that the UAE respects the rights of the child. It records all forms of discrimination against children. "The National Constitution of the State enshrines equality in respect of rights and duties, consistent with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. All national laws prohibit any discrimination between children and establish legal protection for children regardless of sex, race, language or religion." Article 25 of the UAE Constitution stipulates that "all persons are equal before the law, and there shall be no discrimination between citizens of the Federation on the basis of origin, place of residence, religious belief or social status. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395285658060.html