Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) will set up a new branch under Family Prosecution to handle cases involving children, it was announced on Tuesday.
The announcement came after instructions from Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, to put into practice the UAE Children’s Rights Law (Wudeema) which comes into effect on June 15.
Promulgated in memory of an eight-year-old Emirati girl who died after she was tortured by her father’s girlfriend, the Wudeema law will come into effect as of June 15 and is a 12-chapter document on the rights of those under 18.
The upcoming Law number 3 of 2016 also makes it mandatory to report cases of child abuse which include neglect and endangerment. Those who fail to do so will be held accountable by law.
Abu Dhabi Attorney General Ali Mohammad Al Beloushi said that the Child Prosecution aims to lay out the framework and procedures towards achieving the maximum level of protection for children since birth and until they reach 18 years of age.
“This is through the correct and efficient application of the law while taking into consideration the demands of the child’s age, whether psychologically or mentally, through the help of experts in different fields during various stages of a case,” Al Beloushi said in a statement.
The prosecution aims to use modern methods in meeting children’s needs in addition to building capacities in child protection. It also attempts to use an accurate database on crimes where children are the victims or the defendants. “This will contribute to carrying out effective awareness campaigns to limit the spread of these crimes in addition to providing experts with information that they can use during their studies about these topics and in placing real indicators of the behaviour to look out for. This helps in finding more practical solutions to combat such crimes and finally achieve the physical, psychological, moral and mental protection of children,” the statement added.
By Nada Altaher Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.
