UAE: High Commission established to oversee child protection centres – News

Kanaf Centre provides legal, psychological and social support for child victims of physical and sexual abuse

A high-level committee has been formed to oversee Kanaf, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary, multi-agency child protection centre. The centre provides legal, psychological and social support to child victims of physical and sexual abuse.

The directive was issued by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA). It aims to support all legislation and laws related to child protection and care to ensure children grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.

According to the directive, Director of the Child Safety Department (CSD) Hanadi Al Yafei will lead the upper committee.

Al Yafei said: “The Kanaf Initiative is a landmark initiative founded and supported by Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi to ensure the safety and well-being of children and to bring together Sharjah’s professional entities under one umbrella. Kanaf will leverage Local expertise and leverage the local strengths of Sharjah and the UAE’s ecosystem of child protection legislation to build a comprehensive and resilient mechanism to support and protect children.”

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The CSD Director added: “Kanaf is the first entity of its kind in the UAE and the Arab world. It is a new operating structure that is in line with the UAE and Sharjah’s legal and legislative system, placing child protection and care at the forefront of its priorities and legislation. Forefront.”

Director Al Yafei said the directive to establish the Kanaf High Commission paves the way for the start of the official launch phase of the project.

“We have studied global child protection models and developed Kanaf based on the culture and values ​​of the Emirati community. Together with our partners, we will provide comprehensive protection for children suffering from any form of abuse by implementing the highest standards of support and protection, will position the project as an inspiring model to ensure the safety and well-being of children.”

Following the announcement of Project Kanaf in 2020, CSD organized several meetings and workshops with partners in the first phase of the project to streamline the process of providing a wide range of care and protection services to children.

Members of the High Committee include Counsellor Anwar Amin Al Hammoudi, Attorney General of Sharjah; Dr Mohamed Obaid Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Federal Court of First Instance of Sharjah; Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of the Sharjah Police; and the Sharjah Department of Social Services Head Afaf Ibrahim Al Marri.

The high committee also included Dr Fatima Muhammad Al Khumairi, Director of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice; Dr Safia Al Khaja, Director, Al Qassimi Women’s and Children’s Hospital; Modhi Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Family Development Centre Department; .