The Ministry of Interior, represented by the Child Protection Center, marked the International Day of the Girl Child, declared by the United Nations on the 11th of October of each year. This year, the theme is "Empowering adolescent girls: Ending the cycle of violence; and various topics on the issue will be discussed.

Major General Dr. Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of HH Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Child Protection, gave a speech on this occasion. He reiterated  the keenness of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, as per his directives at many an occasion to provide the necessary care and attention for children. He also underscored the unlimited attention dedicated to children by the higher leadership in the UAE, and their unwavering efforts to guarantee their full rights, as stipulated by the international conventions, so they could live in a safe and friendly environment, which protects against harm, abuse, and accidents.

Major General Al Nuaimi pointed out that the Emirati Society that lives according to deep rooted values is a coherent society, adamant about ensuring children’s rights. Taking into account the value of children, the need to preserve their innocence and the importance of the family and its valuable role in the development of societies; the UAE has given top priority to promoting development efforts, such as education, health, security and safety in a bid to support this important segment of society, which is considered the pillar of the country’s future.

The Secretary General hailed the efforts of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of Motherhood, Childhood Supreme Council, “Mother of the Nation”, who is providing unconditional and unlimited support, coupled with financial  and moral contributions, to promote and protect the rights of children and the wellbeing of families, with special emphasis on improving the services provided to children.

Major General Al Nuaimi added that the UAE has come a long way in the field of children rights protection. The Ministry of Interior, in response to the police leadership’s directives, focused on the need to endeavor diligently to make the UAE a center of excellence and a role model in the field of child protection, by committing to international best police, technical and procedural practices. “As per its strategy, the MoI aims to guarantee that all children get the best standards of family stability, by supporting their families and the communities they live in. It is exerting a tremendous effort to follow up on child protection initiatives and projects, whether fully carried out within the police institution or in cooperation with strategic partners. This would contribute to make the UAE a center of excellence for child protection, where the various sectors of the police institution work in unison to achieve security and safety for the society in general and children in particular,” he continued.

In conclusion, Major General Al Nuaimi indicated that the Higher Committee for Child Protection was formed, in order to integrate the efforts needed to establish the necessary foundations and plans for child protection. The committee includes several local and federal entities related to child care and protection, whose concerted efforts culminated in the establishment of the Child Protection Center, which aims at providing the best services and practices related to child protection and rights.

For his part, Major Dr. Mohammed Khalifa Al Ali, Director of the Child Protection Center at the Ministry of Interior, explained that protecting children from abuse and violence is a part of our duty of care under the 14 dimensions of Child Protection stipulated by the center in its general strategic goals. “Children are most vulnerable to violence and it is our stark responsibility to protect them from harm’s way,” he said. He also emphasized those children’s interests and safety need to be given priority above all other considerations. “Children have the right to be heard; and their opinions to be sought in matters that affect their lives, taking into consideration their age and level of understanding. In this matter, all children enjoy equal rights; whether they are locals, residents or visitors. However, emphasis is made on children who are at the highest risk, as determined by an accredited assessment system. Focusing on the girl child on this international day is the United Nations’ way to confirm their future role, as mothers and educators of future generations.

Adding further, Major Dr. Mohammed Khalifa Al Ali noted that the Child Protection Centre, within its strategic partnership with the Children's Affairs Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, has implemented a number of initiatives in this area. One of the initiative included training 250 nursery supervisors at 375 early childhood centers and nurseries across the UAE on the mechanisms of identifying and responding to child abuse cases in nurseries. Furthermore, he noted  that  training focused on providing basic explanation regarding issues related to child protection against abuse and neglect, in order to enhance safety and security of all children in the United Arab Emirates, whether residents or visitors. He added, “After finishing the training program, qualified participants will be responsible for collaborations regarding child protection in their respective nurseries and schools, in addition to reporting any cases of violence or abuse involving children.

The MoI’s Child Protection Center leverages   social media to send awareness-raising and outreach messages in the field of child protection. Major Dr. Al Ali urged community members to communicate via social networking sites, by visiting the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Center’s page on Facebook by searching for the keyword (@SafeChildUAE. People can also visit the center’s account on Twitter and Instagram by typing the keyword (@SafeChildUAE, which personifies the center’s role in promoting the protection of the Emirati children from all types of risks and threats. Members of the public can also visit the center's website on the following link (http://moi-cpc.gov.ae/ ) to learn about the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Center’s wide array of tasks and duties, which include educating community members; enhancing their awareness; and preparing recommendations to develop policies and legislations related to the protection and safety of children.

The Director of the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Center stressed the unstinting attention dedicated by the Secretary General, Chairman of the Higher Committee for Child Protection to the various child protection projects and initiatives. He also reiterated the importance of capacity-building and the acquisition of skills and experiences that promote community efforts in the protection of children against all kind of risks.

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