ABU DHABI // After a three-day marathon debate, the Federal National Council has passed the country’s first Child Rights law.
Members on Wednesday made final amendments to the law, and its 77 articles, which creates a nationwide system to protect children from mistreatment.
Picking up where they left off on Tuesday, the FNC passed a much-awaited clause allowing child-care specialists to remove children from their homes against parents’ wishes and without judicial permission in cases of imminent danger.
After the child is removed from the home, the child-care specialist must obtain permission from the court within 24 hours.
Although some members, including Ahmed Al Zaabi (Sharjah), who is also a lawyer and is the council’s legal adviser, insisted the law was unconstitutional, 19 members present – who made up the majority – ensured its passage.
In less severe cases, specialists may intervene by visiting regularly, providing social services and mediating a solution between the family and the child.
If the family refuses the solution or does not respond within 14 days, the case will then be referred to higher authorities.
Child protection specialists tend to children exposed to abuse, sexual exploitation, negligence, vagrancy, organised crime, forced begging and other hardships, as well as those whose parents cannot care for them.
Those who obstruct the work of a child-care specialist are subject to a fine between Dh5,000 and Dh50,000.
After much debate and backing from the Minister of Social Affairs, Mariam Al Roumi, the council also removed most references to religion in the law to escape any possible implications to “Muslims and non-Muslims”.
In another major move for the country, the draft also prohibits child-sex offenders from working with children.
Any offender who finishes a prison sentence would be prohibited from living within five square kilometres of the victim’s home.
In all cases, offenders will not be released from prison until they go through psychological tests to ensure they are not a threat to society.
Among other rights, children are entitled to health care, education, a safe environment, paid expenses and the right to know both parents and keep close relations with them.
Before parents are given custody of a child, they will have to prove themselves of sound mind.
Members were also keen to impose harsher punishment on offenders.
Those who put children in danger, abandon them, neglect them, leave them without supervision, do not enrol them in school or register them upon their birth, are subject to a prison sentence or a fine of no less than Dh5,000.
The FNC also added a clause to the law subjecting those who distribute child pornography on the internet to a prison term of no less than six months.
The law will now be passed to the President, Sheikh Khalifa, for final approval.
Once it is approved and published in the Official Gazette, it will be enforced three months later.
The law would apply to all children up to the age 18, regardless of nationality and religion.
osalem@thenational.ae
The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
Scribe
Brown/Black belt finals
3pm: 49kg female: Mayssa Bastos (BRA) v Thamires Aquino (BRA)
3.07pm: 56kg male: Hiago George (BRA) v Carlos Alberto da Silva (BRA)
3.14pm: 55kg female: Amal Amjahid (BEL) v Bianca Basilio (BRA)
3.21pm: 62kg male: Gabriel de Sousa (BRA) v Joao Miyao (BRA)
3.28pm: 62kg female: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) v Ffion Davies (GBR)
3.35pm: 69kg male: Isaac Doederlein (BRA) v Paulo Miyao (BRA)
3.42pm: 70kg female: Thamara Silva (BRA) v Alessandra Moss (AUS)
3.49pm: 77kg male: Oliver Lovell (GBR) v Tommy Langarkar (NOR)
3.56pm: 85kg male: Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE) v Rudson Mateus Teles (BRA)
4.03pm: 90kg female: Claire-France Thevenon (FRA) v Gabreili Passanha (BRA)
4.10pm: 94kg male: Adam Wardzinski (POL) v Kaynan Duarte (BRA)
4.17pm: 110kg male: Yahia Mansoor Al Hammadi (UAE) v Joao Rocha (BRA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
