ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, June 10th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Centre and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), to ensure students’ protection against all forms of abuse.The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters (GHQ). The MoU was signed by Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Abu Dhabi Education Council Director General and 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. The MoU aims at elaborating systems, policies, procedures and programs to ensure the protection of students, and develop a unified mechanism for reporting suspected cases of child abuse, neglect or exploitation, in an efficient and measurable way that befits the national culture.

H.E Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Abu Dhabi Education Council Director General, underlined the commitment of the higher leadership to provide child protection, which is underpinned by the Constitution of the UAE, and advocated by international conventions. “Child protection is a humanitarian and national duty,” she said.

Adding further, she noted that administrative and educational staff at the various schools across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi have a shared responsibility and are ethically bound to protect students against all forms of risk or abuse, which undermine their security and safety. “It is their duty to observe the fundamental principles of good practice and provide care and assistance to students, as well as report any suspected cases or incidents,” she continued.

Furthermore, ADEC’s Director General commended the existing cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, in all areas related to protecting children’s rights, and to safeguard children against potential dangers. Dr. Al Qubaisi reiterated the importance of this strategic partnership and the need to reinforce joint cooperation in various programs and initiatives that serve the protection of children’s rights. She also called for enacting appropriate legislations and policies, and cited the different student awareness programs launched by ADEC.

Adding further, she said: “The Abu Dhabi Education Council is keen to achieve an integrated system to protect children. This includes promulgating legislation, policies and regulations that govern the work of all caregivers working in the educational field. ADEC is also committed to intensifying joint work with the competent entities towards providing an ideal and safe learning environment for students that is consistent with the highest standards and best practices. It also aims at boosting children’s capabilities and encouraging students to empower themselves academically and socially, in order to boost their efficiency and enhance their ability to develop a positive behavior within a safe and stimulating environment.”

In conclusion, Dr. Al Qubaisi stressed ADEC’s readiness to further promote the strategic partnership with the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Centre; implement training programs; and exchange information and expertise. She also called for establishing systems, policies, procedures and programs to ensure the protection of school students in Abu Dhabi against all forms and levels of violence, as well as against abuse and neglect.

For his part, 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, emphasized the keenness of the Ministry of Interior to support local and international efforts to ensure the protection of children against any attempts of abuse. This is in line with the directions of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; and in support of his ongoing commitment to establish the UAE as a cultural hub and one that is a role model in the region for reinforcing child protection and safety, through precautionary measures that promote security and safety in society.

He noted that the UAE is doing its best in providing protection and security to children as they are the hope of the future. He pointed out that the Higher Committee for Child Protection at the Ministry of Interior is committed to cooperating and partnering with the various relevant organizations within the UAE, because the protection of children is an essential ingredient to building and developing societies; praising the cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC).

Adding further, Major General Al Nuaimi said: “Children are the real wealth of the country. They make the present flourish and the future rests upon their sleeves, therefore we must position them as our priority in terms of care and attention. We must also provide a safe environment where they feel comfortable and able to forge a constructive and benevolent character that is keen to serve their community. In order to build this character, we must provide children with adequate security and safety and protect them against the implications that arise from the different aspects of neglect and psychological, sexual, or emotional abuse.”

He also highlighted the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Centre and raising the awareness of the community, parents and educational staff in public and private schools; in addition to providing the required knowledge and skills to safeguard children against the various types and forms of child abuse or child exploitation that may arise within the family or the community.

The signing ceremony was attended by Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs; Major General Omair Mohammed Al Muhairi, Director General of Police Operations at Abu Dhabi Police; Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, ADEC’s Executive Director of School Operations; and Major Dr. Mohammed Khalifa Al Ali, Director of the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Centre.

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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