DCD Celebrates the Emirati Children's Day

The Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi celebrated the Emirati Children’s Day, which is held under the theme “The Right to Health” this year and falls on March 15 of every year. The department helps in raising awareness amongst all segments of society on the rights of children and ensuring they grow in a healthy and safe environment which supports nurturing their abilities and skills to contribute to the community.

His Excellency Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of DCD, said: "Thanks to the directives of our wise leadership, the UAE has made pioneering achievements in childcare and granting children basic rights in line with international norms and laws, by providing the best healthcare and educational systems.” H.E. stressed that children are the future of the country and have a major role to play in driving the development process, achieving societal goals, and building a cohesive society that enjoys the highest quality of life standards.

Al Khaili pointed out that DCD is collaborating with its partners to run multiple projects and initiatives to raise the quality of life for children in Abu Dhabi, amongst the most important initiatives was the establishment of the Early Childhood Authority (ECA) in 2019. Today, ECA is leading childcare processes, formulating policies and strategies, conducting research related to childcare, and organising cultural and educational programmes on the topic.

Dr. Mugheer added: “Emirati Children’s Day, we gathered yesterday at the World Early Childhood Development (WED) Forum, one of the key global scientific meetings attended by a group of influential policy makers, academics, specialists and pioneers in early childhood development, with the aim of inspiring people concerned with early childhood development to become active contributors to positive change.”

H.E. Al Khaili added: “We are blessed in the UAE to have an advanced legislative system that consolidates the importance of childcare and preserving children rights. The “Wadeema Law” is one of the most important laws that guarantee the rights of children in all aspects of life, particularly family support, healthcare, educational, cultural and social rights, in addition to providing protection mechanisms for children.”

Last year, DCD formed a committee called the "Family and Child Protection Committee" which consists of 13 members representing various entities that are relevant to the family and children care. The Committee is continuously working on setting effective frameworks and policies to protect families and children, providing support, care and attention to children and their families, and working to protect their rights in accordance with the highest international standards and practices.

The committee contributes to unifying efforts to review the family and child protection system in general, and to identify the enablers that can be implemented to raise effectiveness, quality, and efficiency. It also supports in developing necessary proposals to improve coordination between entities, especially for complex and extremely dangerous cases.