UAE Child Rights Law ready for final approval

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: UAE Child Rights Law ready for final approval The Child Rights Law has been passed by members of the Federal National Council (FNC) and returned to the UAE President for approval, in a move that will provide greater safeguards for children once it is brought in. The bill allows childcare specialists to remove abused children from their homes even if parents object. Approval from the court must then be secured within 24 hours. It was first passed in January last year, but was returned to the FNC by UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for changes to be made and wording to be corrected. Yesterday, members debated the law, made changes in some of the phrases of article 20, which creates a nationwide system to protect children from mistreatment, before they re-approved the draft. Umm Al Quwain FNC member Ali Jassim said: “Only a few changes have been made to the law, mainly wordings before it has been reapproved. It is a good law and will help in protecting children from abuse.” The draft will need to be signed into law by Sheikh Khalifa and published in the official gazette before being enforced three months later. The bill was originally named Wadeema’s Law, after the girl of that name who was murdered and dumped in the desert by her father and his girlfriend in 2011 after months of brutal mistreatment. Both are serving life in prison. Her murder prompted authorities to speed up proceedings, which were already under way. The law would apply to all children up to 18 years old, regardless of nationality and religion. ismail@7days.ae Read the original story at: UAE Child Rights Law ready for final approval