A dedicated child protection centre in Sharjah aims to centralise key resources to deliver swift support to those at risk.
The multi-agency centre – known as Kanaf – is due to open imminently and will bring together forensic, protection, medical, therapeutic, and policing services under one roof.
It is at the heart of the emirate's efforts to safeguard some of the most vulnerable sections of society.
Rehabilitation doesn’t end with the victim being discharged from the institution, because a follow-up is a must to ensure they have regained themselves
Ghanima Al Bahri,
Dubai Foundation for Women and Children
Strategies to reduce abuse were on the agenda at the second Child Safety Forum, held in the emirate on Wednesday, which was organised by Sharjah Safety Department.
“Numerous departments in the emirate were set up with the sole purpose of protecting youngsters,” said Maj Gen Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police.
The wide-ranging response is focused on prevention and protection, and includes hotlines to report abuse and awareness and education initiatives at schools and for parents.
Parents urged to be first line of defence
The police chief said the family unit has an integral role to play in protecting children.
He said it was important for parents to take an interest in the lives of their children to help prevent them falling prey to offenders, especially online.
Keeping lines of communication open was key, said Al Amer Karama Al Ameri, head of Public Prosecution at Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
“We saw different incidents of sexual abuse whether partial or full abuse and other incidents that happened online,” Mr Al Ameri said.
A leading child protection advocate said she had personal experience of the threats lurking on the web.
“This happened to my son and I am a very well-known advocate of child safety and protection,” said Moza Al Shoomi, counselling and well-being expert at the Ministry of Education and deputy head of Emirates Child Protection Association.
She shared a personal experience where her son, 12, was lured by an Instagram advertisement offering a bike for sale.
“The advertiser made sure to post a bike that is used mainly by children aged between 10 and 14 because they were his target.”
But the strong relationship she had with her son and her efforts to educate him about how to stay safe paid dividends.
“He immediately told me and after reporting the man, who got arrested, authorities discovered he had a long list of child abuse cases against him.”
Children take a stand against abuse
Ms Al Shoomi said awareness campaigns had made children more vigilant against potential dangers and more likely to report incidents.
She said next year’s schools curriculum will include a new topic called Support Self.
“It will teach children about their safety, how to secure it, the privacy of their bodies and how to safeguard them,” she said.
Walid Al Hammad, senior prosecutor at Sharjah Family Court, warned of the risk of young victims growing up to be offenders, creating a vicious cycle of abuse.
He said he believed "a broken family is the main cause of the problem" and is "not only contributing to a child becoming a victim but also an offender”.
Importance of rehabilitation
Ghanima Al Bahri, care and rehabilitation director at Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, spoke of the long journey of support needed for victims.
“Rehabilitation doesn’t end with the victim being discharged from the institution, because a follow-up is a must to ensure they have regained themselves,” Ms Al Bahri said.
She told of one case in which a six-year-old victim was given help by her team until the age of 18.
She said it was essential to utilise all approaches to therapy to help children get their lives back on track.
“We recently started using animals in therapy because the approach was a success with many victims worldwide.”
The forum, hosted by Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, was held under the patronage of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
8.50pm The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Majestic Thunder
7.05pm Commanding
7.40pm Mark Of Approval
8.15pm Mulfit
8.50pm Gronkowski
9.25pm Walking Thunder
10pm Midnight Sands
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
Results
6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 I 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 I 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 I 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm The Entisar Listed I Dh250,000 I 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
9.25pm The Garhoud Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,200m I Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
More on Turkey's Syria offence
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
