Third Emirati Children's Day to be held next month

The occasion is marked on March 15 in recognition of the UAE's efforts to safeguard children's rights

Young members of the Al Hosani family attend a press conference announcing this year's Emirati Children's Day. Victor Besa/The National

A landmark event championing children's rights in the UAE will be held for the third time next month.

Emirati Children's Day is observed on March 15 of each year, in recognition of the milestone date a law was approved to safeguard young members of society from all forms of abuse.

It was launched by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, chairwoman of the General Women's Union and president of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC).

Rym Alfalasy, secretary general of the SCMC and Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, were among those in attendance at a press conference to promote the day at Manarat Al Sadiyat in Abu Dhabi.

The day was adopted to coincide with the approval of the Child Protection Law 3, popularly called Wadeema law, on March 15, 2016.

Wadeema was an 8-year-old Emirati girl whose death shocked the nation when she was found buried in the Sharjah desert in 2012.

She had been tortured to death by her father, Hamad Al Shirawee and another suspect.

The law protects Emiratis and residents and lays out the legal rights of minors in the UAE. It is designed to protect children until the age 18 from all types of abuse, including physical, verbal and psychological abuse.

The law was further strengthened in December, 2018 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

The Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai issued a cabinet resolution that includes 23 clauses regulating the training and employment of minors, procedures for reporting offences against children, conditions for becoming a child welfare officer and obligations that must be met by families fostering children.

The legislation stipulates that children under the age of 15 cannot be granted employment. Those over the age of 15 can apply to work with the written consent of their parents or legal guardian.