Sharjah Children holds press conference to launch 13th Sharjah Arab Children Forum

The Organizing Committee of the 13th Sharjah Arab Children Forum (SACF), organized by Sharjah Children of Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, will unveil details of this year’s event at a special press conference to be held at Mughaider Child Centre, Sharjah on Monday March 19.

This year’s edition, held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, takes place from March 24-28 under the theme "Hear us ... We Are The Future". The forum is a platform hosted every two years for Arab children of different ages and nationalities to discuss the issues that concern them and affect their present and future.

On the eve of the press conference, Aysha Ali Al Kaabi, Acting Director of Sharjah Children (SC) and Chairperson of the forum’s Higher Organising Committee said: "The Sharjah Arab Children Forum reaffirms Sharjah's commitment to championing children's issues and reflects Sharjah's vision for childhood development for the future.

“The forum, which has been held since 1995 under the guidance and support of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, seeks to support children from all over the Arab world. It adheres to instilling loyalty to the homeland and the identity, and the raising of an educated generation equipped with will and determination and the right to live safely.

“The Forum strengthens the reputation of Sharjah as a city that nurtures children and young people, and which, through its initiatives and programs, is keen to safeguard the rights of children and strengthen the relationships between UAE children and Arab children.”

Sharjah Arab Children Forum: Previous editions

In the first Sharjah Arab Children Forum, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah invited Arab children to sign the Declaration of the “Supreme Council of Childhood”, in which they appealed for an environment of security, prosperity and stability to help children grow.

The second Sharjah Arab Children Forum coincided with the Children's Festival held by Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah, in which the Arab children affirmed the depth of their loyalty to their Arab Islamic nation and its culture.

The third meeting coincided with the decision of UNESCO to choose Sharjah as the Cultural Capital of the Arab Region in 1998, and at that event the forum discussed the right of the Arab child to education.

The fourth edition discussed the threat of cultural invasion and the important role that children played in this area.  The group also attended the inauguration of the Sharjah Discovery Centre.

During the fifth Sharjah Arab Children Forum, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi called on Arab children to speak openly about their creativity obstacles and their role in supporting Islamic culture.

In the sixth Sharjah Arab Children Forum, Arab children expressed their full support for the steadfast Palestinian people during a reading workshop by the support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.

The Arab children debated loyalty to the homeland at the seventh edition, while the Arab Islamic identity and globalization was the topic discussed during the eighth forum. In the ninth forum, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi spoke about the role of the family in protecting the children while at the 10th Forum, a call for peace to protect Arab children was presented to different countries and international organizations. The 11th Forum celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Sharjah Children Centers and the activities of the 12th edition of the Forum included training programs to enhance leadership skills, instill creativity and promote unity and teamwork among participating children, in order to enhance communication and exchange of experiences. More than 120 children from 11 Arab countries attended the forum.