TENDERNESS LIES IN YOUR HANDS, PEACE WITHIN YOUR CARE STANDS,YOUR WARM HEART IS WHAT EVERYONE DEMANDS
ISSUE (1), OCTOBER 2018
HOW SHARJAH BECAME
AFRIENDLY CHILD CITY? UNICEF
CHANGE A CHILD’S LIFE FOREVER
SHARJAH POLICE
CORRECTIONAL THAN PUNITIVE
How to protect your children in the picnic season?
SHARJAH CHILDHOOD PROTECTION NETWORK
TOGETHER WE BUILD OUR
CHILDREN FUTURE u Are yo to ready win?
• HAPPY DAYS STARTS WITH BREAKFAST • BULLYING... SUSTAINABLE HARM • USEFUL APPLICATIONS FOR KIDS SAFTY
EDITORIAL
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Shaikha Belhoul Al Muhairi Chairperson of Board of Trustees (SCPN)
Kanaf... We Prosper Together
MANAGING EDITOR
Aisha Abdullah Bin Ali Direcor of (SCPN) ADVISORS
Board of Trustees
Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Hosani Moza Mohammed Al Suwaidi Aisha Abdullah bin Ali Mohammed Mubarak Al-Ghafli Dr. Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal Hanadi Saleh Yafei Mohamed Ali El Ghazal
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EDITING & DESIGN
Khawla Ibrahim Ahmed Al Hassan Khloud Turkomani Hazem Aljaber Abo Fakher Maher Safyeldin
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Proceeding from the guidance of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Court and Ruler of Sharjah, to provide the proper basics for a prosper and stable society, promoting the goals of Sharjah Childhood Protection Network to strengthen effective cooperation and coordination among organizations of Sharjah concerned to protect childhood and constructing cognitive and professional abilities for both workers and volunteers in child protection domain and considering the role of media in raising the awareness and pushing the wheel of progress and sustainable development further, the launch of Kanaf Magazine comes to complete the role of Sharjah Childhood Protection Network, highlight the prominent activities carried out by committees and parties working in the same domain in Sharjah, promote social awareness about the necessity of childhood protection as a main part of strong society and shed light on the most significant methods to raise awareness and limit child abuse. Through this magazine, we look forward to participating in building deeply rooted social awareness about child abuse and its dangers, providing guidelines to child’s protection, stressing on the importance of reporting any abuse cases and encouraging all social categories to live up for their responsibilities. That would be important because child’s protection from abuse includes many details of the society related to children, family and different social associations. We hereby present you the first issue of Kanaf magazine. We hope that it will be the first of its kind to deal with childhood protection cases. The magazine takes the responsibility to spread the knowledge and raise the awareness of child’s protection. We assure you that this new media space welcomes your notes, suggestions, and participations that are in interest of our work and goals. Together and hand in hand we prosper. SHAIKHA BELHOUL AL MUHAIRI Chairperson of Board of Trustees of Sharjah Childhood Protection Network
Opinions expressed in articles are the writer’s own and do not reflect the view of Kanaf Magazine. The publisher also disclaims any legal responsibility towards other parties.
SHARJAH CHILDREN PROTECTION NETWORK
www.cpn.ae | info@cpn.shj.ae | 0545827848 - 065040400
Goals: Vision
Be the first Network Protection of Child in the Arab Wold in 2019
Mission:
Implement Initiative Development Project that contribute the Performance of institutions and workers in field of child protection.
@shjcpn
1. Strengthen collaboration, coordination and interaction between institutions that work in the child protection field in the Emirate. 2. Build knowledge and professional capabilities of professionals and volunteers in the child protection filed, developing their performance according to best practice, and sharing professional experience in different fields. 3. Develop performance of institutions that work in the child protection filed in the emirates. 4. Develop tools to monitor and document violence and abuse against children in the country in institutions that work in the child protection field. 5. Provide Libraries with research and information to develop the childhood protection field. 6. Raise community awareness of children’s rights in general, and their protection and safety in particular. 7. Contribute to revising current legislation and suggesting new or improved legislation to insure child protection.
CONTENTS ISSUE (1) OCT. 2018
CONTRIBUTORS
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PROTECTION FORUM 16
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Maj. Gen. Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi: As an entity, we are more correctional than punitive Reinforcing psychological health of abused children and children of inmates
Districts and Villages Affairs Dep. The Department gives great care to the family including all family members which children come at the first place of care in all its programs and events.
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Levels and Dimensions of children protection system Child protection can be considered through three levels resembled in a conical shape expressing the diversity and the magnitude of right-holders.
Con. Dr. Anwar Hamim Bin Saleem Gen. Man. of the Higher Innovation Center International creativity and innovation trainer Member of Sharjah Child Protection Network
Essam Ali Social Policy Specialist- UNICEF Gulf Area Office.
Dr. Mohamed Hamdan bin Jarsh Board of Directors Of Melihah Literary Award Member of the Sharjah Child Protection Network.
Amal Zaid Nasser Ministry of Education. Member of the Sharjah Child Protection Network
Rr. Nader Francis Consultant Pediatrics and Chest Diseases in Children, Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah
Kenana Ali Abdel Aal Executive Media Relations Executive Office of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi Member of the Sharjah Child Protection Network
Noura Al-kassir Professional Programs Coordinator. Sharjah University Human Development Certified Trainer. Member of the Sharjah Child Protection Network
Dr. Bushra Ahmad Akaishi Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Sharjah
Halima Mohammed Hamid Senior Family Directive - Dubai Courts. Member of the Sharjah Child Protection Network
Jamila Abdel Aziz Al Rawahi. Ministry of Education Member of the Sharjah Child Protection Network
Ahmad Salem Sahouhh sharjah electricity and water authority Member of the Sharjah Child Protection Network.
Suheir Adel Najib Certified Family Counselor Member of the Sharjah Child Protection Network.
Wafaa Al Sayed Ahmed Certified international trainer
CARE
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How Sharjah Became a Child Friendly City? May 2018 UNICEF announced the Emirate as the very first Child Friendly City in the world.
Aisha Saif Al Khaja Member of the Municipal CouncilSharjah Member of Sharjah Childhood Protection Network
Bullying ‌ Sustainable Harm How can we face bullying and what is the way for a safe school environment? What is the role of parents and the educational in facing bullying?
Their Happy Day Starts with Breakfast A sufficient nutritious breakfast represents a magnificent factor helping children to accomplish their dynamic and mental tasks.
When Coughing is Useful to your kids? On average, healthy kids get cold about six to eight times a year especially during the winter or at the beginning of the academic year.
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How to Protect our Children in Public places? Patience is skill that can transcend our life and the life of our loved ones, so let us practice that with our kids to immortalize the best memories with them.
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Medicael Advic
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CONTENTS ISSUE (1) OCT. 2018
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LIAISON 32
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Corporal Punishment A Way for Discipline or Torture? Children of diverse ages, genders, religions and social backgrounds might be subject to violence because of education approaches followed by educators .
How to Protect them from Cyber Bullying? Teenagers and children targeted by cyber bullying do not like to tell their teachers or parents about that because they would feel embarrassed or be prohibited from the having their own home PCs.
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World Fit for Children all international charters and laws without distinction of any kind, in order to secure children development and balance.
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Together we build our children future “SCPN” Deriving its vision from the values of the country’s wise leadership based on tolerance and peace, and from various human experiences
33 From a Wadeem
TOGETHER IN SHARJAH Tech-Childhood We hereby will overview the best applications that provide unique content in order to achieve joy, education and benefits for kids.
Your Kids are in Safe Hands Governmental Kindergarten of Sharjah overcome all challenges that hinder the good upbringing of kids qualifying them to be good and influencing people in society.
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Child’s Helpline 800700 The helpline functions as a work mechanism of early interventions in cases of dangers practiced upon children.
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Al Majaz Waterfront... The beating heart of the city Located in the vibrant heart of Sharjah, Al Majaz featuring stunning scenery overlooking the Khaled Lagoon.
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COLUMNS
We Are All Responsible ... Aisha Abdullah Bin Ali.
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They are Creative, but!.. Dr. Anwar Hamim Bin Saleem.
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Body Language… Wafaa Al-Sayed Ahamd
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No for Violence… Dr. Bushra Ahmad Akaishi.
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Message to Sharjah’s Children…. Dr. Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal.
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PROTECTION FORUM
We Are All Responsible •••
With no exceptions, we are all concerned with childhood and its protection. All social individuals are responsible for that; therefore, we should realize and deeply comprehend the concept of childhood protection. It is considered common knowledge and academic approach simultaneously. Childhood protection has become an independent science that has its approaches, applications and origins that are delivered through educational courses in the most prestigious associations of higher education. The importance of spreading childhood protection comes when realizing that everyone in the society is concerned with this issue directly or indirectly. All societies include children below the age of eighteen. When talking about childhood protection, we think about the role of concerned parties with childhood protection like Sharjah Childhood Protection Network. However, that concept is deeper. Considering the fact that awareness should be formed in the cognition of children during their early childhood to reflect that on their behavior as it is the core of the whole process, we should escalate and unite efforts to raise the awareness of children. That would be fulfilled through educating them the general principles for child’s protection along with their rights and duties. Therefore, all parties should unite their efforts to promote awareness by escalating social initiatives, awareness programs and educational activities. Moreover, we should not forget the necessity of strengthening relationships of society and concerned parties. Responsibility is shared between all and not restricted to anyone, so we are all responsible. AISHA ABDULLAH BIN ALI
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The workshop was aimed at how to write a detailed report on some cases, and learning how to prepare a treatment educational plan.
THE CONCLUSION OF “TECHNIQUES OF SOCRATIC QUESTIONS IN GUIDANCE INTERVIEWS” WORKSHOP The Techniques of Socratic Questions in Guidance Interviews Workshop which was organised by the Sharjah Childhood Protection Network concluded recently. It was presented by Dr. Benna Bosbon from the Kingdom of Bahrain throughout the course of five days at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The workshop, which was part of the first phase of a specialised program for child protection, was aimed at identifying what case study is as a concept and method and its historical development, the most important tools for collecting data, distinguishing between case study as a tool and as a research method, identifying the steps and stages of a case study, how to write a detailed report on some cases, and learning how to prepare a treatment educational plan. The presenter, Dr. Benna, said: “The procedural goals of the workshop are to identify the history and philosophy of the Socratic seminars and to participate in a varied group of them. Participants would also conduct a Socratic seminar with colleagues, acquire the skill of selecting cotexts and opening questions for initiating conversations with the interviewees, practicing Socratic strategies in interviews, as well as learning about and practicing individual and group thinking. 6
SCPN HOSTS A MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COMMITTEE FOR THE CARE OF DEPRIVED CHILDREN Sharjah Childhood Protection Network hosted a meeting of the permanent committee for the care of deprived children. The chairman and the members of the committee attended the meeting: His Excellency Advisor: Salim Ali Al Hosani, Chairman of Sharjah Sharia’a Court and the committee. His Excellency Major General Saif Mohammad Al Zari, Commander-in-chief of Sharjah Police, Vice Chairman of the committee. Mr. Mohammad Abdullah Al Zarouni, director of Sharjah Medical Region, a member. His Excellency Colonel Jamal Fadel Al Abdoli Director of Nationality Management in Sharjah, a member. His Excellency Afaf Al Marri, Executive Council member,
Head of Social Services Department, Secretary of the committee and Mr. Ahmad Ibrahim, Rapporteur of the committee, in the presence of the Chairman of board of trustees, Shaikha Belhoul, and the Director of the Network Aisha Abdullah Bin Ali. The meeting discussed a set of issues, ideas and initiatives related to childhood under the seeks of the committee to promote the integration of roles between the members of society and its governmental and private institutions in relation to children. In addition,taking all the necessary steps to protect them and raise awareness of children protection against various types abuse.
Protection Forum ... NEWS & IDEAS
Happy Childhood Children are the light of life and the secret of happiness; through them life goes on. Based on that, UAE have accomplished a huge leap in promoting childhood in the context of man development along with man’s happiness, safety and prosperity.
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BY: AISHA SAIF AL-KHAJA
Since the formation of the Federation, The Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, Founder of UAE and Builder of its civilization, realized the importance of building a man. He utilized all efforts and resources to promote man. His Highness with The Rulers of Emirates exerted massive efforts to create a leading independent generation armed with morals and education to accomplish its dreams and ambitions. His Highness affirmed in every occasion that building countries begins by building the man. Therefore, he was keen to guarantee happy childhood for UAE kids by securing them total rights in all aspects including health, educational, social, psychological and humanitarian domains and ensuring total care and protection to save them from any harm. The Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan totally trusted his own people, so he provided them all means of prosperous and decent life through the generous supervision and support of The Mother of Emirates, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, The Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and The President of the Motherhood and Childhood Supreme Council. His Highness Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of UAE, followed the same path along with Their
•••
Highnesses Rulers of UAE to continue what The Late Sheikh Zayed had started in building individuals and providing them happiness and good upbringing to be good citizens participating in pushing the wheel of progress forward. UAE accomplished confident and pioneering great shifts to accomplish happiness and prosperity for its nationals. It abided by all international agreements and treaties required for children rights and protection. Moreover, the state adopted strategies and set plans, initiatives and programs to promote happiness and goodness for Emirati people. In the context of the national strategy for motherhood and childhood 2017/2020, Her Highness assigned a day for Emirati child in March 15th of every year in order to shed light on children’s rights as a cornerstone for both family and society and to celebrate the children of UAE and their accomplishments as pillars of future. As a result of those efforts, the children of UAE could reach universality in record time to accomplish honorable results raising the name of UAE in international forums and excelling their international peers to fulfill the dream of the country to be among the best countries for children’s protection.
FREE MEMBERSHIP FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS Sharjah Childhood Protection Network (SCPN) has announced the opening of its membership to students under the age of 18 free, and that among the types of the network memberships, which includes institutions membership, youth memberships, and finally students memberships, the only one free, and described as future leaders membership. Aisha Abdullah bin Ali, Director of SCPN said that the announcement of the opening of the enrollment for students comes in conjunction with the start of the new school year, pointing that the network has developed within its future plans and strategies to include students that are interested in the field of childhood to its membership. And that within the studied frameworks for the implementation of the network’s plan and agenda that specialised for school students membership. She also pointed out that the future leaders membership like other types of memberships has specific conditions that provided to be available in all those who wish to obtain it, and among those conditions, to be given for one year, and the student age should be under 18, and is affiliated to an educational institution with a leadership personality.
Never Throw It Away • • •
Children might have many toys that they do not like anymore when they get older or when they buy new ones. We wish that such toys would not end in the trashcan. You will need to exert simple efforts that will turn into happiness for you and your children. Collect the toys that your kids no longer like; let them help you in that and put the toys in nice bags. Take them to present those toys to other kids who cannot afford them. In case you find any difficulty, go to the charitable associations which will do that on behalf of you.
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HOW SHARJAH BECAME
A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY?
The Emirate of Sharjah has long focused its effort on supporting children and young adults and worked to establish an integrated strategy to ensure their wellbeing, health, safety, security and rights. In recognition of its ongoing efforts to empower children and elevate their capabilities, Sharjah has been named a ‘Child Friendly City’ (CFC) by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative. Sharjah’s selection for this title was not a coincidence, but an inevitable result and a culmination of over 40 years of dedication. SHARJAH BABY FRIENDLY OFFICE
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Protection Forum ... PARTNERS
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This accolade is aligned with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and His wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. Their ambitious vision contributed to the establishment and implementation of many complementary entities and initiatives that seek to provide children and young adults with a thriving environment in which they can hone their skills, develop their talents and further their capabilities. In May 2016, Sharjah Baby Friendly Office (SBFO) – the Sharjah-based entity dedicated to the development and implementation of plans and strategies that support Sharjah’s children and youth – submitted Sharjah’s nomination to join UNICEF’s global Child Friendly Cities Initiative. The move was aimed at highlighting Sharjah’s efforts to enhance policies and procedures that have a positive impact on children’s welfare, as well as promoting the emirate as a child friendly destination that bolsters children’s education, entertainment, physical and psychological wellbeing. UAE ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1997, but the efforts aimed at supporting children at the local and federal levels started long before then, as the question of children’s rights has always been one of the most important priorities in UAE’s vision for development. In August 2016, the SBFO signed the first MoU with UNICEF in preparation for Sharjah’s nomination file to join the global initiative. From September 2016 to January 2017, the office conducted an evaluation study and an inclusive analysis of the stature of children and young adults in the emirate, in collaboration with all institutions and entities dedicated to children’s rights across UAE. It also curated many discussion panels that comprised of experts along with kids and their families. In February 2017, Sharjah’s nomination to join the global initiative was announced, and a short-term (one year) executive plan was launched in partnership with UNICEF to fulfil the accreditation requirements. The plan included forming a steering committee, which comprised of directors from government institutions and entities whom were tasked with overseeing the development and implementation of initiatives and strategies that promoted and protected children’s rights. Since its nomination, and until July 2018, the SBFO office curated many events, meetings, and visits to fulfil the accreditation criteria. It held 150 official meetings with government entities and organised 30 discussion panels for 350 students from public and private schools. The panels included differently abled students and members of the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators. The SBFO office also conducted 20 visits and other activities dedicated to children and young adults. The office also curated three workshops and nine discussion panels for staff members of organisations and institutions dedicated to children’s rights. The office held two meetings with the project’s steering committee and signed off two MoU’s with UNICEF. After a comprehensive evaluation of Sharjah’s efforts, UNICEF announced the emirate as the very first Child Friendly City in the world, according to the new criteria and slogan of the Child Friendly Cities Initiative. His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi received the first internation-
HE Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi , Chairperson of the Sharjah Baby Friendly Office
We will carry on working together to maintain privileges attained to our children and promote them in order to achieve more care, qualification and support to all children of Sharjah.
In August 2016, the SBFO signed the first MoU with UNICEF in preparation for Sharjah’s nomination file to join the global initiative. February 2017, Sharjah’s nomination to join the global initiative was announced May 2018 UNICEF announced the Emirate as the very first Child Friendly City in the world
al accreditation certificate, which held the new international slogan of UNICEF’s global initiative, in the presence of young representatives from the Sharjah Children Shura Council and Sharjah Youth Shura Council and a host of Sharjah’s school students. Aimed at promoting this achievement, the SBFO developed the outlines of the ‘SCFC 2018-2021’ project’s action plan, in coordination with hundreds of children and young adults from public schools, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, children’s rights entities, universities, community organisations and families. The Child Friendly Cities Initiative was launched in 1996 to act on the resolution passed during the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) to make cities liveable places for all. UNICEF oversees the implementation of this initiative, which involves 30 million children in 36 countries from around the world. It aims to ensure that children (aged 0-24) fulfil all their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that was established in 1989. UNICEF’s Child Friendly City Initiative features five global objectives that accredited cities pledge to include in their strategies and action plans: That every child and young person is valued, respected and treated fairly within their communities and by local authorities; every child and young person has their voice, needs and priorities heard and taken into account in public laws, policies, budgets, programmes and decisions that affect them; every child and young person has access to quality essential social services; every child and young person lives in a safe, secure and clean environment; and every child and young person has opportunities to enjoy family life, play and leisure. 9
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“The Ministry of the Interior, headed by H.E. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, spares no effort to maintain security in the community. A clear vision has been established since 2006 that UAE will be one of the best and leading countries in the world in achieving security and safety. The ministry’s mission included several pivots, such as working effectively and efficiently to enhance the quality of life and society, providing smart security and safety services to preserve people’s lives, property, honor and dignity. It has as well, identified seven strategic objectives, foremost of which is the promotion of security and safety,” Major General Al Shamsi said.
SAIF AL ZARI AL SHAMSI
WE ARE MORE
CORRECTIONAL THAN PUNITIVE
Sharjah Police GHQ, has made great strides in consolidating child protection and safeguarding its rights. It has a number of distinctive initiatives in this area. Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, was interviewed by KANAF Magazine to highlight the remarkable and supportive experience of enhancing child protection.
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OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND PRESERVE THEIR INNOCENCE HE Major General Al Shamsi added, “The Sharjah Police GHQ, has consistently established and implemented this vision, and has entrusted its security arms to serve the main function of maintaining security and safety. This is done in accordance with well-studied scientific principles that promote the stability of society, strengthen the principles of social justice and safeguarding the rights of all community members. Safeguarding children’s innocence, protecting them and ensuring their security and safety are among the goals we are working to consolidate. This is linked to the objectives of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, to promote the right of children and mothers to comprehensive care within a sustainable health environment and to strengthen the protection and safeguard children within an integrated and comprehensive system. This comes in line with planned policies and sound programs, based on evidence and accurate information to ensure the protection of children’s rights.” RAISING AWARENESS OF (WADEEMA’S LAW) AND MECHANISM OF APPLICATION Major General Al Shamsi spoke about the role of the police in the promulgation and implementation of the Child Protection Law, “Since the issuance of the Wadeema’s law, Sharjah Police has informed its employees about the provisions of this law and held workshops on how to apply the law. Coordination was maintained with the Public Prosecutor’s Office on how to receive filed reports, the stages of their processing, and how to bring the abuser of children to
Protection Forum ... PARTNERS justice,” the Major General explained. “In cases of severe abuse, we coordinate with the Department of Social Services to provide an incubator and a safe place for the child, until the completion of the judicial proceedings. As for the publication of the Child Protection Act, Sharjah Police was the first to publish the law through the Police Magazine. Special workshops on the law and its applications were broadcast on the radio, through the Aman Ya Baladi program.” the Major General said. Special rooms are for children On the child protection mechanisms provided by Sharjah Police, and dealing with child abuse and reported cases, HE Major General. Al Shamsi said, “Sharjah Police pays utmost attention to children, where investigators were trained through special sessions on how to deal with children and handle them. Special comfortable rooms are reserved for children to feel safe away from adults.” CHILD ABUSE HELPLINE Our main partners in this process are the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the Department of Social Services, which play a major role in caring for children, especially the abused and victims of violence. The Emirate of Sharjah has allocated a helpline for children (800,700).We take all the reported cases into consideration. This in turn contributed to spreading the child care culture in the emirate. In addition to this, the ‘Permanent Committee for the Care of Children Deprived of Social Welfare’ is vice chaired by the General Commander of the Sharjah Police,” the Major General concluded. PARTNERS IN ESTABLISHING ‘THE SHARJAH CHILD FRIENDLY CITY PROJECT’ On the role of Sharjah Police GHQ in establishing the Sharjah Child Friendly City Project, HE Major General Al Shamsi said, “the Sharjah Police GHQ, follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and we work with all government and private entities to set and promote positive initiatives to establish Sharjah as a landmark in all fields.” Major General Al Shamsi added, “Sharjah Police is keen on activating partnerships with child rights stakeholders. We are participating in the ‘AQDAR Program’ for school students, to help raise awareness among students in various school stages and establish a positive relationship between children and the police. Sharjah Po-
We are constantly coordinating through effective partnerships with concerned entities to create a safe environment for children. lice publishes the (Little Policeman’s Magazine), handles child cases and reports, and maintains special rooms for children’s interviews and inferences, It organizes workshops, training courses and awareness raising activities targeting individuals and officers on how to deal with children and draw conclusions from them. Sharjah Police has launched the (Balsam) program, among others to meet basic needs of financially disadvantaged student, with children favorite cartoon characters. There are also programs that support child protection such as the University of Sharjah Child Care Center Diploma, which was joined by a number of the Sharjah Police Social Support Center staff, specialized in handling issues of children and adolescents, with aim to acquire skills for coping with children.” ABUSED CHILDREN With regard to the channels that the abused child goes through, and how the
Safeguarding children’s innocence, protecting them and ensuring their security and safety are among the goals we are working to consolidate
police deals with reported abuses, Major General Al Shamsi explained that the mechanism through which reported cases of child abuse are handled, could be summarized as follows: - First, children’s reported abuse cases are received from various sources, including direct contacts, transferring reported cases from other quarters, as well as cases reported by external persons to the police operations room. - Rapid intervention is provided by police officers, police stations, investigators or social support centers, according to the nature of the reported incident. - Criminal cases, will be dealt with in strict confidence - Psychological and social rehabilitation will be provided to the abused children. - The Social Support Center assesses harm done to the children in terms of its seriousness - using the child abuse form - to determine the degree or severity of the assault on the child. - The Social Support Center treats some cases of behavioral deviations through counseling and guidance sessions conducted by specialists in the Social Support Center. Juvenile rehabilitation…With determination we soar high. As for the correctional and punitive institutions contribution to the protection of juveniles, and helping them to achieve psychological balance as correctional 11
Investigators have been trained through special courses on how to deal with children
more than being punitive centers, HE Major General Al Shamsi explained, “The initiative (With determination we soar high), was launched to help rehabilitate juvenile delinquency, by engaging them in social activities and voluntary work in the Emirate, such as cleaning mosques, cleaning Wasit and Hamriyah coasts, visiting elderly people at the Elderly Care Center, visiting patients at the Kuwait Hospital. Daily programs including religious and cultural lectures and sports activities, and organized to enhance juvenile physical and mental abilities. Family gatherings for the juveniles are organized during the holy month of Ramadan each year, as part of the (Ramadan with my Family) initiative, including a collective iftar and a number of recreational activities which bring together juveniles and their families.” 272 CHILDREN HOSTED BY DAR AL AMAN “On the other hand, a nursing home for children of inmates, was established under the name ‘Dar Al Aman’ in cooperation with our strategic partners - the Department of Social Services and the Sharjah Charity Association. During the period 2015-2018 Dar Al-Aman benefited 272 children, including newborns and infants up to the age of two years, hosted in an atmosphere far from 12
detention facilities. To ensure the safety of newborn infants of mothers detained in correctional and punitive institutions, hours for breast-feeding were allocated to allow the infant to breastfeed, and receive proper nutrition in their first years of age,” said Major General Al Shamsi. CHILDREN OF INMATES.... ROYA (FAMILY E-GATHERING) Major General Al Shamsi confirmed, “We are keen to enhance the psychological care of the children of inmates, through organizing family gatherings to bring prisoners together with their children in a family atmosphere. A number of children will be hosted by the state, to visit their fathers or mothers detained in establishments. Sharjah Police GHQ in cooperation with the Department of Social Services, had recently launched the Roya (family e-gathering project to ensure the rights of the children to see their detained parents and continuously communicate with them. Twenty children have so far benefited from this project.” COORDINATING WITH PARTNERS Major General Al Shamsi concluded his speech on the role of police in cooperating with partners to secure a safe environment for children, “We are constantly coordi-
nating and following up on children and adolescents issues, through effective partnerships with concerned entities to create a safe environment for children.” Most important partnerships in this regard include, the Department of Social Services, MOI Child Protection Center, Child Abuse Helpline, the Committee for Children without Social Care, the Children Social Care Centre, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services / initiatives, the Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation / initiatives, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the Child Safety Department . Joint efforts in partnerships covered transfers of shared cases, raising awareness of children and staff training, cooperation with Sharjah Educational Zone, Ministry of Education / Aqdar Program, following up cases of school violence and bullying, participation in all seminars and conferences on child protection, coordination with the Family Court, Family Guidance / Follow-up on violence against children and the Convention on parental responsibility. All these partnerships underscore the importance of concerted efforts to provide a safe and stable atmosphere for children, in which they enjoy psychological and social balance in a safe, serene and secure environment.
Protection Forum ... PARTNERS
They are Creative, BUT! •••
Khamis bin Salem Al Suwaidi Chairman of Districts and Villages Affairs Department Member of the Sharjah Executive Council
Towards A Happy And•Interdependent Society ••
Through its strategies and goals, Districts and Villages Affairs Department gives great care to the family including all family members of different ages through which children come at the first place of care in all its programs and events.. Human is a pillar in the department’s work system apart from suburbs’ councils of Sharjah which are the councils of Al Rahmaniya, Zubarah, Mughaidir, Wasit, Al-Khaledieh and Muwailih, and it is considered the greatest investment for the progress and the future of the country. Therefore, human should grow within the social fabric and live within a family and lovable and cooperative neighbors. As long as this context is considered, children come prior because they are the main pillar of social relations and family goals. That care of the department relates closely to the wise guidance and continuous care of children and its provided fundamentals to guarantee children a stable family environment that provides all requirements of care and upbringing in addition to health and psychological care. All of that meets the goals and the visions of the department to keep children prior to their parents, family, neighbors and the neighborhood which will reflect positively on children securing them stability and balance. Over the year, the department organizes many programs and initiatives in all its premises across Sharjah targeting children through their families to promote social values and to root the love of both the nation and family belonging. That indicates well how much H.H Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme
Council and Ruler of Sharjah and his wife H.H Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs care about children along with their concerns, dreams and future. Districts and Villages Affairs Department has organized annual initiatives targeting families at the first place to provide programs and events including the event of our schools are our homes at first-grade schools in addition to programs of memorization of the holy Quran and granting some gifts on Eid. The department also has organized sport championships in running and PlayStation in addition to other activities. It has honored outstanding students in order to deeply root its approaches and policies that aim at paying great care for children and promoting their family relations leading them towards a promising future through which the department role becomes complementary to other departments to continue the journey of progress and prosperity.
Human should grow within the social fabric and live within a family and lovable and cooperative neighbors.
Most people believe that creativity is restricted for the select few without the others. That is completely wrong because every one of us is unique himself and cannot reveal that except on learning and attitudes. Based on that, it is worthy to point out that we should understand how to deal with children. Many of us do not know that kids are more creative than adults are; moreover, the highly significant point that most people do not know is that children form 90% of their personality at their first seven years of life. If parents and teachers acquired the approaches of developing kids’ skills and dealing with them, there would be a creative, proactive and leading generation. Headed by wise guidance, UAE sought that goal through which children have been a priority. It has emphasized the importance of caring about children’s hobbies and stressed on the necessity of educating parents and providing them with methods and approaches of educating and upbringing their children based on traditions and modern values too to adapt to the futuristic challenges. Considering the fact that creativity is a mixture of flexible and practical imagination, both good families and caring schools are developing factors for children’s creativity. Then come the approaches and their types, the social environment and other affecting factors which all need to be correctly dealt with. Characteristics for creative children: • Like to discover: all those dealing with children must not limit nor restrict their knowledge and imagination. • Flexibility: children differently tend to discover and find out new things. • High ability to express: children should be allowed to express themselves without any restrictions. • Refusal of routine and restrictions: Most of them might like to disobey or revolt against laws. Therefore, we should welcome their opinions and educate them how control them and respect others’. DR. ANWAR HAMIM BIN SALEM
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Social Policies: Guarantee child's right without any distinction in a way that secures them quality learning, healthy life, clean environment, dignity, and the right to participate.
Early intervention to limit hazards and their impacts on children and their families.
Complementary policies and programs of special protection procedures to protect victims of children subject to violence, abuse or exploitation.
• LEVEL ONE - PROTECTION
• Guarantee child’s right without any distinction in a way that secures them quality learning, healthy life, clean environment, the right to participate and dignity protected from all types of violence, harm or abuse. • Securing the right of a child to grow within a suitable environment. • Comprehensive awareness for all social categories about children and their rights. • Support and build the potentials of children, their families and all those dealing with them along with the organizational support represented in developing strong associations able to respond to rights’ needs.
•LEVEL TWO – LIMIT FACTORS OF DANGER
LEVELS AND DIMENSIONS OF
Child Protection System The Convention of Child’s Right and its emphasis on the complementary of rights led to the necessity to coin up a deeper vision for child’s protection considering that words are a main component of the majority of the content of rights’ system guaranteed by the international convention. BY: ESSAM ALI Social Policy Specialist- UNICEF Gulf Area Office.
C
•••
Child protection can be considered through three sequential levels resembled in a conical shape expressing the diversity and the magnitude of right-holders. The first includes the rights of all children within the homeland, the second relates to the most vulnerable people in the society and 14
the third is limited to those whose rights have been violated or suppressed. The three levels work interactively as long as efficiency is considered. Better quality and inclusive services at level one means less vulnerability, and more effective methods of level two reduce the spectrum of violation and denial.
Children live in a social, economic, cultural and political environment which might be dangerous affecting the ability to enjoy some rights or to be restrained form them. The levels of dangers’ effects vary. Some of them are direct like poverty or family fragmentation, while others are indirect like the dominant cultural concept about childhood which might limit child’s social participation. That leads to the necessity of early intervention to limit the dangers and their impact on children and their families. Responses vary from an immediate intervention to limit the danger efficiently like providing compensation for income stop to long-term intervention like changing the common concepts about childhood and upbringing.
• LEVEL THREE – SPECIAL PROTECTION MEASURES There is a number of children in all societies suffer from the denial of some rights, abuse and violence. Those children need many special protection measures locally and internationally through which the utmost benefit should be sought to integrate and qualify children. Those three levels are reflected through three dimensional laws and legislations to
Protection Forum ... PARTNERS
guarantee the greatest protection rates.
• DIMENSION ONE – SOCIAL POLICIES THAT
GUARANTEE CHILD’S RIGHT Applying the vision and the philosophy of The Convention of Child’s Right to accomplish welfare and a harmonized development of children, the protection provides child’s right as the general principle of the second article of the convention states, “States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination.”
• DIMENSION TWO – PROVIDE HELP FOR CHIL-
DREN AND THEIR FAMILIES Many researches indicate that there is a strong connection between denial of child’s right and children’s exposition to negative phenomena like moral perversion or getting involved in dangerous acts. That requires state intervention through some procedures and mechanisms to deal with those circumstances that may hinder child’s right and to support both families and children in case of indigence. For example: • “For the purpose of guaranteeing and promoting the rights set forth in the present Convention, States Parties shall render appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities and shall ensure the development of institutions, facilities and services for the care of children.” Article 18/2. • “Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the estab-
lishment of social programs to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child.” Article 19/2. • Help to those in need to get educated as the convention provides “Make primary education compulsory and available free to all,” and “take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates.” Article 28. • “A child temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment, or in whose own best interests cannot be allowed to remain in that environment, shall be entitled to special protection and assistance provided by the State.” Article 20/1. • “States Parties shall recognize for every child the right to benefit from social security, including social insurance, and shall take the necessary measures to achieve the full realization of this right in accordance with their national law.” Article 26/1. • “The benefits should, where appropriate, be granted, taking into account the resources and the circumstances of the child and persons having responsibility for the maintenance of the child, as well as any other consideration relevant to an application for benefits made by or on behalf of the child.” Article 26/2. • “States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programs, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing.”
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DIMENSION THREE – PROTECTING CHILD’S PERSONALITY FROM ALL TYPES OF ABUSE AND HARM • The convention provides a general principle requires that “States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse.” Article 19/1. In addition, the second paragraph of the set forth article stresses on the necessity to take protective measures including “the establishment of social programs to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child.” • The convention states another general principle that provides “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of: any form of neglect, exploitation, or abuse; torture or any other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or armed conflicts. Such recovery and reintegration shall take place in an environment which fosters the health, self-respect and dignity of the child.” • The convention also provides special texts about different types of child’s protection from abuse or mistreatment (child’s labor, article 32; sexual exploitation, article 34 and denial of freedom, articles 37 and 40.) How to manifest this vision in the protection system? That is to be answered in the coming issues. 15
BULLYING SUSTAINABLE HARM BY : KHAWLA IBRAHIM
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“I was eight when I firstly suffered from bullying. One of my colleagues told me that none loved me, and none would ever do. Right from that day, I was subject to verbal, physical and online bullying for eight years. I believed what my colleagues told me; my head was always down and my eyes got stick to the ground all the time. In a way or another, I started to get depressed.” 16
Protection Forum ... REPORT
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Ega, the young writer, describes in those words her suffering from bullying that lasted eight years. She is one of thousands of victims who adapted to that problem silently. International studies and researches affirm that one out of three students who approximately count 130 million aged 13 to 15 across the world suffer from bullying. In 39 countries across Europe and North America, 3 out of 10 teenagers admit practice of bullying. Therefore, we should sound the alarm to stand against the danger that is thriving among students especially with the technological progress and the emergence of social media that gave the bully more chances to practice bullying over peers. What is bullying? How can we face it and what is the way for a safe school environment? What is the role of parents and the educational commissions in facing bullying? LONG-TERM DANGER Bullying is considered one of the most
prominent children’s problem at school that resembles their first exposition to the outer world away from family protection. The problem is bigger than what is thought to be child’s harm; it is bigger than our idea that children will forget about that and play together again later on. We should not underestimate that, and we should take it seriously considering its extremely high danger. Several studies have related bullying experience at childhood to the problems and both social and psychological disorders of those persons when getting older; that would manifest in isolation, depression, selfharm, difficulty to get a permanent job and weak social communicaSeveral studtion skills. The danger is not limited to the victim because ies have related it is also related to the bully bullying experience at whom can be considered the childhood to the problems second victim. The studies and both social and psychohave also affirmed that the logical disorders of those bullies are more likely to persons when getting show criminal behavior or to older use drugs when getting older.
• • • He woke up crying and weeping and refused to go to school. He has been like that for one week weeping and refusing to attend his classes as if he were a kid in a kindergarten. I hugged him and did not know what to do especially that he is a good and disciplined student. I could not figure out the reason behind that until he told me that recently some of elder students beat him and threatening that things would get worse in case he told anyone about that. His psychological condition deteriorated. I decided to visit my kid’s school to ask for calling upon parents and guardians of those students or I would complain to the police otherwise. The next day they came and apologized for their children’s behavior, and the students apologized for my son before their parents. My son is confident once again
GUIDING POTENTIALS School’s administrator, Ms. Khadija Al-Shareef, explains in details saying, “Bullying is an intended and repeated hostile behavior practiced by a student against another one. The first type of it is the direct one which has verbal side like mocking or use some humiliating nicknames, and the physical one like beating which may lead to direct health problems to the victim’s body. The second type is indirect which is the most dangerous to deal with because it is hard to be identified unless the victim reported it. This type depends on destroying social relations of the victims, disrepute and exclude them. As educational body, we deal with those cases individually, and we treat them based on two dimensions namely the victim and the perpetrator or the bully. We always have some courses and workshops for teachers, educators and administrators to explain about dealing with such cases, solving students bickering and continuously monitoring bullying that might happen. We stress on the necessity to get students busy during the break along with non-class activities to compete that phenomenon in addition
to guide their potentials to make the most of them to spread love and cooperation and take away bickering and hatred. No doubt, it is very important to raise the parental awareness about the dimensions of bullying and cooperate with them to face it at homes and schools. We should not forget the necessity of guiding our children and explaining to them about the necessity of reporting the smallest problems to the school’s administration.” ROLE MODEL As long as the dimensions of bullying are considered, teacher Abdul-Aziz Ibrahim affirms saying, “I want to call parents of students to help them overcome the dangers of bullying through upbringing them in a healthy and positive social environment. We suffer today from a big mistake of those parents who teach their children to react violently when they are mistreated. By so doing, self-defense would turn into bullying; therefore, schools and parents have a big role of negatively or positively directing the behavior of children. Some parents teach their children to take their right by their own and 17
Protection Forum ... REPORT to meet mistreatment with a greater one which would break the school system. Because of long-term dangers of bullying for both the bully and the victim, it was necessary for schools and families to cooperate to fight this phenomenon, to find the role model for students and to activate the social act of punishing the bully in order to correct his or her mentality to be responsible. From another point of view, we should honor positive and outstanding students. Consequently, there would be a balance between punishment and reward.� SUPERVISING AND AWARENESS-RAISING Ms. Israa Abo Al-Khair asks schools administration to oblige teachers and supervisors to monitor students especially during break time and to consider all complaints seriously in order to solve them; otherwise, problems would accumulate and became very difficult to deal with. Besides, the bully should be referred to social supervisor to start the recovery process considering integrating families in the process. As bullying is thriving, we ask to organize some workshops and courses to raise the awareness of both families and students about bullying and techniques of dealing with it. PERMANENT IMPAIRMENT Concerning the psychological and physical dangers of bullying, Dr. Mazen Abo Shabaan says that bullying affects the victim directly leaving some welts that could be harmful and cause an impairment or a permanent disability sometimes in addition to the worst thing which is the psychological harm because its longterm effects unlike the curable physical pain. Therefore, we should escalate efforts and cooperate to uproot and eliminate the problem because of its massive psychological and behavioral dangers on the coming generations. It results in hatred, revenge, isolation and depression for children. The solution begins at home with the good upbringing and rooting morals and values telling children that strength is in morals and tolerance. Besides, it would be good to get them accustomed to share what they have with others to help one another and to be away from pride and love to possess. STRICT LAWS In the same context, psychosocial specialist, Dr. Jasmine Al-Khaldi, affirms that when dealing with bullying, we deal with two victims whom we should treat properly without using violence and tyranny. For the bully, families should take the responsibility to activate their educational role in reminding their children of the necessity of respecting others’ emotions and obeying the rules. Families should not ignore the importance of making their children enroll within social and sport activities when available in order to socially integrate and promote their confidence. 18
Advices
Never lay the responsibility on your children and never let them feel weak. Do not teach them to react violently to violence, and never accuse them of cowardice and inability to take their right back There is a great necessity to create rich environment for positive school and home relations in addition to put strict laws concerning inappropriate and refused unphysical behaviors even if they were not hostile. The harm is not limited to school attendance. Social media enables cyber bullying which includes sharing humiliating or threatening posts about the victim or sharing some roamers and embarrassing photos
In addition, the content that children view on television or the internet should be monitored, and any abnormal behaviors should be highlighted. It would be necessary to seek the help of psychosocial specialist if the abnormal behavior maintained, and it would not be a good idea to consider any excuses or justifications for that. Moreover, governments and educational institutions should issue strict laws to punish the bully, and they should provide schools with experienced social workers. In addition, they should convey the idea of role model, increase nonclass activities and launch awareness campaigns for all people of different ages about bullying, its types and protecting ourselves, and recovering from it. Yes for Complaints The first decision to be made by the parents or the guardians is to develop and strengthen the personality of victims because victims suffer from weakness and negative calmness when exposed to bullying. We should qualify them to speak, face and refuse any types of violence or abuse. If bullying continues, the victim should report that to the administration because that is a sign of strength not weakness, and it is a legal procedure to impose punishment over bullying which indicates justice. It is also important to focus on art of facing and dealing with problems because that would help to get psychological balance in addition to teach victims self-defense techniques to build physical and psychological strength and promote self-confidence. To conclude, talking about bullying takes many pages, and it has many ramifications. However, all of that indicates the necessity of cooperation of concerned parties to compete bullying and raise awareness about it besides creating safe environment for students characterized by equality, justice, prosperity and respecting social ethics and rules.
Elder students from the sixth grade beat my son. The bad thing about that is that they left a clear welt on his face which may last lifelong, and the problem is the bad and deteriorated psychological state of the child. I complained about that to school, but that was not considered seriously. My son is still suffering and I am thinking about changing his school but afraid that this would affect his school life.
CARE
Body Language •••
Are body moves and gestures innate or acquired? Many researches and studies were conducted for this popular question. Experiments conducted on blind people affirmed the their inability to learn dynamic gestures or imitate them. Besides, it is worthy to point out to the nonverbal behavior for different people around the world. Observations and experiments affirmed that body movements and gestures are divided into innate and acquired. In the twentieth century kinesiology was founded. It precisely observed and monitored the smallest of those movements and gestures. Kinesiology scientists observed human movement anytime anywhere and tried to unveil the implied meaning of body language. Besides, different studies archived more than a million body symbols and gestures. Women are noticed to be the masters of intuition. When becoming mothers, their intuition excels men’s ten times. The attention allocated by mothers to their babies at least during the first two years of baby’s childhood in which babies cannot use verbal expressions developed women’s intuition amazingly. Considering that, it becomes easy to understand the strong mother-child relation and mothers’ understanding of every movement and gestures of their children. Hereby we strongly stress on the importance of the body language of your children as it is a significant indicator of dangers or violence they faced during their day. Get close as much as possible to your children because their body language unveils what they hide. WAFAA AL-SAYED AHAMD
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WHO recommends breastfeeding especially during the first sixth months of childhood and advises to continue the process as much as possible
Natural Breastfeeding Allah Says, “Mothers may nurse [i.e., breastfeed] their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is their [i.e., the mothers’] provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father’s] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Seeing of what you do.”
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The holy verse is considered a heavenly guidance to breastfeed during the first two years of childhood due to its greatest benefits for the health of both the mother and the baby. The mother’s milk contains a special mixture of antibodies and nutritious elements that provide your baby with good health and well-being. In addition, the idea that makes the mother’s milk unique is that it changes continuously to correspond
Be ul Caref
to the needs of every stage of childhood. Considering the fact that many new mothers do not like to breastfeed, it is worthy to point out to some of its benefits. It helps to strengthen the immune system, the digestive system and illness resistance, and it reduces the sudden infant death syndrome. It also protects the baby of colic, gases, diarrhea and stomach constipation caused by the artificial milk; besides, it reduces the chances of ear diseases, diabetes and other diseases.
Right from early stages of pregnancy, your lifestyle especially your diet affect your child’s life. Make sure to follow healthy diet during pregnancy; you are absolutely responsible for the health of yours and your baby. Also, make sure to breastfeed your baby and never underestimate that. Remember that your nutrition helps make the milk to feed your baby. Therefore, choose food rich with proteins like fat-free meat, eggs, beans, lentils, low-mercury seafood, full grains, fruit and vegetables, and avoid food types of strong flavor including garlic and onion as they may change how milk tastes and causes baby’s breastfeeding rejection, consequently.
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Breastfeeding triggers uterine contractions that help to accelerate post birth healing process. It also stimulates the body to release prolactin that comforts the mother and helps her to lose weight caused by pregnancy. Moreover, it reduces the chances of womb and breast cancer. WHO recommends breastfeeding especially during the first sixth months of childhood and advises to continue the process as much as possible. Many modern researches affirm that artificial and cow’s milk causes the chances of diabetes for children because of the high concentration of antibodies in child’s serum. Besides, it is good to know that the enzymes, the lining and the movement of the digestive tract and the dynamics of digestive system do not function properly during the first months baby’s life; they develop gradually until the baby turns 2 years old. Therefore, two-year breastfeeding means less harmful antibodies in pancreatic beta cells that release insulin. That clearly shed light on the scientific miracle of Holy Quran that identified breastfeeding to be two years. That was proved to be important 1440 years after the Holy Quran was gifted to people. Besides, it also highlights the care of Islam about the health of mothers and children; all Islamic guidelines stress on the importance of complete two-year breastfeeding unless there is an obstacle which hinders that.
Care ... FOR YOU & YOUR CHILD
Give Me Your Hands •••
Cultural Immunity Let us assume that immunity is a criterion of body resistance to resist changes and their outcomes whether it is the body of a man, a society or organizations. Would it be possible then to say that we always need to measure our self-immunity amid the huge challenges of individuals, societies and countries allowing ourselves to identify our ability to deal with those challenges? DR. MOHAMMAD HAMDAN BIN JARASH
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Every day we see the world releasing several new concepts that impose themselves strongly on our life to the extent that would change it totally without considering whether our responses to that are good or bad for us. If we could not really control those changes and concepts, we could then think about how to monitor our acceptance and reaction to them. Based on that very point, it is useful to ask ourselves about the role of the culture in forming self-immunity of both individuals and societies. How can we raise the level of the collective cultural immunity if culture is considered an immunity factor? Such a question should not lead to absolute isolation from the world because that is vague and useless due to the fact that no man is an island nowadays. Therefore, the answer should be accompanied by our will of openness to the world while preserving our identity and thinking of participating in forming those changes rather than keeping as negative recipients. None can deny the obvious role of media in forming the culture of individuals and societies through the excessive injection of information and ideas through different mass media especially visual one for its strong effects. However, it is clear that most media content does not consider the collective development; it turns to be event-restrained to reach the highest views the fact that makes
it lose one of its main roles to participate in raising the collective awareness. From another point, the Arab world is witnessing many huge shifts of which the most important is youth integration; youth play a vital role in identifying the track of events. Therefore, it is natural for different categories to have a direct or indirect attempt to gain youth satisfaction. The key for that is sometimes to fill that emptiness which youth suffer from or to seek answers for their different questions of different issues. As a result, they could be exploited to raise some destructive approaches that do not fit with our society, rather they hinder social development. Hence, cultural and mental immunity becomes a prominent necessity to maintain middle ground and constructive arguments and to build an open-mind personalities able to discuss and based on tolerance. To build a cultural immunity is a national duty that cannot be restricted to a party or an association; rather it needs coordination of several parties to be part and parcel of the social strategy for development and culture. Without considering the level of our accomplishments in this domain and the success of the tools/means that we have, lack of cultural immunity and its outcomes remain a probable threat. Therefore, it becomes natural to identify the standards of cultural immunity and how to promote it.
I am 16, and I am the sole son for my conservative family; I have four sisters. I always feel lonely, and what made it worse is that I moved into a new school. Neither brothers nor friends I have. However, I met some people older than me. A new stage of my life started in which I had a lot of fun and attended some places that do not fit with my environment. One of them used to smoke heavily. They did their best and exerted all efforts to pull me more towards them. Both my academic achievement and my family relation started to deteriorate. That was very strange to me; I felt very isolated from myself. Please, help me! I cannot live alone without friends again, and I do know that I am not following the right path. As a consultant, I feel very proud of you and your question for that means that you are a guy who knows what right is and what wrong is too. However, you need a helping hand that I hope to lend you. You do know the right path, but you cannot stick to it. Therefore, you need to consider two points. The first of which is inner one; promote your self-confidence, persistence and willingness to overcome your temptations and whims. The second point is to exclude yourself from the affecting factor. In other words, get away from those things that trigger you to do wrong like attending suspicious places at night or places of smokers. Be confident and say No. and remember what Prophet Mohammad PBUH says, “The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one blowing the bellows. The owner of musk would either offer you some free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or you smell its pleasant fragrance; and as for the one who blows the bellows (i.e., the blacksmith), he either burns your clothes or you smell a repugnant smell.” Communicate efficiently with your parents and be honest while speaking about your fears. Apologize for the past and tell them that you are intending to change your life positively. Keep busy by developing your hobbies; you can attend licensed clubs in which you can make new good friends. Develop yourself and enroll some courses of emotional intelligence and social communication to acquire the methods of enjoying social traits. Educate yourself and remember that a book holds a house of gold. CONSULTANT: SOHAIR ADEL NAJIB
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A
HAPPY DAYS
STARTS WITH BREAKFAST BY : AMAL ZAID NASER
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Breakfast at early childhood is considered the first stimulus to have a happy day full of energy and vitality and to do life tasks efficiently. During that stage, the brain of the children and their psychological and cognitive abilities grow so that they become able to control their reactions and relations with the small surrounding. Therefore, a sufficient nutritious breakfast represents a magnificent factor helping children to accomplish their dynamic and mental tasks to start a day full of happiness and positivity. 22
According to educational system stages, unlike basic education stage, kids in kindergartens start their day there by having breakfast which helps them start their day with energy and vitality. However, children in basic education stage do not have suitable time to eat meals at school; they start their day with classes according to the school timetable. Morning classes continues until 10 A.M, and then the break time comes in which kids eat and play. That results in laziness and inactivity. Therefore, the main role of the family especially the mother is to accustom children to have breakfast before going to school. Nutritionists affirm that accustoming children to have breakfast early in the morning does not only affect their body health and dynamic performance, but it also affects mental and psychological health as well. That is visible in being happy, safe and satisfied. Nutritionist Rima Sulieman adds, “Having breakfast provides children with energy and calories to help them perform mentally and physically and to focus at class; therefore, healthy mind, healthy body.” (www.sayidaty.net)
Care ... FOR YOU & YOUR CHILD So mothers somewhat could choose her children’s happiness if she understood the importance of breakfast early in the morning and its variety based on what children prefer taking into account the variety of nutritious elements like proteins, carbohydrates and scratch. Moreover, the supplementary breakfast at schoolyard that is usually at 10 to 10.30 AM is an essential, fast and light meal. JOINT RESPONSIBILITY Breakfast represents a joint responsibility for home and school. The role of the mother to accustom children to eat breakfast in the morning and to prepare different meals is not less important than the role of teachers in supporting the idea of having breakfast at home through classes and open discussions with children. Successful teachers have a supplementary role to schools through supporting the positive behavior and deterring the bad one and supervising it while children are at school. Therefore, it is important to point out the awareness of teachers to communicate daily and efficiently with the family of the children and discuss the basic needs to develop physical psychological and social health which is reflected through the school achievements. There are many methods and approaches to get kids used to eating breakfast. For example: METHODS FOR FAMILY – MOTHERS (Bakos, 2001) • Invite children to buy breakfast needs allowing them to choose the breakfast themselves; that does not only enhance their desire to eat the meal, but it also raises a challenge to eat a suitable amount to convince their mother with their right choice. • Waking children up early, preparing the breakfast table in a neat way by choosing the color of the place mat and organizing nice, colorful food tools, and lovely characters for children (dishes, glasses and spoons). That will motivate children to eat while enjoying watching those characters.
Delicious
Key of Happiness •••
The happiness of children and creating a balanced environment for their needs are common concerns for all teachers and educators. As long as the importance of breakfast for children is concerned, a study conducted by The Ministry of Education – Department of Sports Education in 2010 reports that breakfast is the key of body balance. It contributes to restraining obesity among students, and it helps to lose weight through increasing metabolism which results in an increase in both fat burn and use without the need to store it in the fat tissue. The study also reveals that 75% of students do not care about having quality breakfast or never have it at all which affects their academic achievement and decrease the success rate of schools. The researcher affirms that breakfast is the key to success, great academic achievement and positive communication. He adds, “Scientists care greatly about the kids’ mental abilities that start to grow right after the birth and to interact with the environmental stimulators. The parents often give attention to the basic abilities that are the kids’ ability to focus, understand, and comprehend and the rate of the academic achievement besides the quality and the type of their attention and positive interaction with the class environment.” To conclude, to make them a happy day, we should create kids lovely atmospheres to have a quality and nutritious breakfast to trigger their mind and body.
• Presenting different meals and minimizing the nutritious portion of every type because the stomach of children does not take big quantities of food; it is recommended to have small and varied quantities food. METHODS FOLLOWED BY TEACHERS. • Reminding children every morning of breakfast and asking them about what they have for breakfast. That motivates children to compete to reply and answer teachers. It also motivates them to commit to teachers’ desires. • While doing activities, divide children into groups named by the names of fruit and vegetables that they like and invite them to eat more of them. • Innovating yearly initiatives and weekly contests and honoring ideal children who eat breakfast which is reflected on their dynamic and cognitive activity. • Distributing posters and stickers of highly nutritious meals and flower shaped fruit at school’s lobbies and classes in order to motivate children to eat what is shown in pictures. • Examining children by the school’s nurse to discover those who do not have breakfast the fact that requires teachers’ intervention. Away from family protection. The problem is bigger than what is thought to be child’s harm; it is bigger than our idea that children will forget about that and play together again later on. We should not underestimate that, and we should take it seriously considering its extremely high danger. Several studies have related bullying experience at childhood to the problems and both social and psychological disorders of those persons when getting older; that would manifest in isolation, depression, self-harm, difficulty to get a permanent job and weak social communication skills. The danger is not limited to the victim because it is also related to the bully whom can be considered the second victim. The studies have also affirmed that the bullies are more likely to show criminal behavior or to use drugs when getting older.
Pepper Rings Eggs
Banana Sandwich
Fruit cocktail
Give your children a new idea of introducing eggs cooked inside a bell pepper ring in this quick and easy “egg in a pepper” recipe that is a gluten-free a§nd paleo-friendly breakfast item.
The taste is delicious and requires only five minutes to prepare. Peel the banana and cutting it into halves. Add peanut butter with teaspoon of honey.
Bring a beautiful cup, put inside it any cutting of the favorite fruit your kids like it . Add a teaspoon of ice cream, and sprinkle it with nuts.
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When Coughing is Useful to your kids? RR. NADER FRANCIS Consultant Pediatrics and Chest Diseases in Children, Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah
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Care ... HEALTH Om Rashed and her son Rashed enter Dr. Nizar’s clinic; Rashed immediately goes to the small table in the corner and starts coloring using different pens.
Om Rashed: “Hello Dr. Nizar. How do you do?” Dr. Nizar: “Well enough! How about you?” Om Rashed: “As you know the academic year has already started, so I think that we will have more visits to here. Only one week passed and the result is my son suffering from cough. I am getting very worried about that, and what made it worse is what my friends told me.” Dr. Nizar interrupted and said “Sorry for interruption Om Rashed, but please calm down. My job is to help you, ease your mind and guarantee your son soundness and well-being, so would you please tell me what is exactly annoying you both?” Om Rashed: Thanks dear doctor. You know very well that you are monitoring Rashed’s health condition right from his early childhood. He has been suffering from a bad cough for one week; that is worrying. What made it worse is that when I met my friends at our periodical meeting, they heard Rashed coughing and scolded me for neglecting that claiming that the situation might develop into asthma. They recommended some methods like using nebulizer. They also advised me to find any way for therapy by using anti-cough medicines to avoid turning that into allergy or asthma. Based on their experience, I should use antibiotics immediately. I told them that we usually consult our doctor before doing anything. Unbelievably, I could not sleep last night waiting for the morning to come to you.
Doctor Advice s
Dr. Nizar, “I appreciate your confidence in me; let me know some things from you.” Om Rahsed: “Yes, sure!” Dr. Nizar: “How did all that started?” Om Rashed: “At the beginning, my family caught flu. All of us cured from that, but Rashed continued to cough at a steady rate until today.” Dr. Nizar: “Was that accompanied with temperature? Did that affect him while sleeping, playing or eating? Did you notice any of kind of dyspnea or some strange sounds while breathing?” Om Rashed: “Nothing of the sort doctor, but coughing is worrying me more than how it worries Rashed. Rashed is doing his everyday activities normally. He coughs several time during the day and while sleeping or playing. However, that does not affect or wake him up, but he snores a little bit. Therefore, I am afraid that coughing turns into asthma or chronic cough unless we treat that. Dr. Nizar: “Let me examine Rashed at first.” The doctor finishes examining Rashed,
Dr. Nizar: Everything is normal; there is nothing to worry about. Please I would like to explain to you about coughing, and you can ask me in case you have questions then. On average, healthy kids get cold about six to eight times a year especially during the winter or at the beginning of the academic year. Viruses are the main cause for that, so antibiotics do not work out. We should allow the body cells to defend themselves, and that might take several days. Coughing is very important; it is a natural defensive reaction to clear breathing tracts from extra mucus and
Coughing is normal and might continue for several days, and it will not turn into allergy or asthma unless the body is ready for that.
Treatments in such cases depend on natural methods like drinking plenty of liquids including natural herbs like thyme, chamomile or ivy.
scratching material in the lungs like dust. It would be harmful to have no coughs or eradicating them medically. Now as for flu, coughs are very important here to clear the air tracts from over mucus, and that would continue for three weeks or more. Unless that affects their everyday activities or is accompanied with breathing problems like dyspnea and whistling, then it is normal and should not be treated. Treatments in such cases depend on natural methods like drinking plenty of liquids including natural herbs like thyme, chamomile or ivy, and avoid using drugs. In cases like Rahsed’, coughing is normal and might continue for several days, and it will not turn into allergy or asthma unless the body is ready for that. Frankly, this is the case, no more no less; I hope that you are relaxed now.” Om Rashed: “Thanks doctor. I am relaxed now indeed, and I will tell my friends about their wrong treatment and that the case is very simple. However, if Rashed does not get better, we will pay you another visit.” Dr. Nizar: “You are both welcome. It is my duty to listen to your problems and explain the real case for you giving the suitable medicine if that requires so.” Om Rashed: “Dear Rashed, let us thank the doctor and go home.” Rashed: “No mom! I have not finished coloring yet.” Dr. Nizar: “Let him finish that, and I will ask him at the end to write his name on the picture to hang it on the wall with other kids’ artwork.”
Coughs are very important here to clear the air tracts from over mucus, and that would continue for three weeks or more.
On average, healthy kids get cold about six to eight times a year especially during the winter or at the beginning of the academic year
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@EmiratesPalace
PICNIC SEASON HOW TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN IN PUBLIC PLACES?
BY : KINANAH ABD AL-AAL
•••
We are all waiting for the nice weather to take our children on vacations. Right from the beginning of early childhood, parents or any kids’ companions should be ready psychologically and cognitively to respect the time of kids through ensuring them the utmost safe environment.
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DISCUSSION Talk to kids before and after vacations, while 26
playing, and show them the plan because our kids need such positivity and fun. Identify the activity that you will do together and the allocated time for the vacation to let them stick to the time and value it. Pre-vacation discussion will get kids ready to the plan, and that would build trust between you and them. Therefore, we should always abide by the promises that we make. KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIRST AID AND EMERGENCY NUMBERS Safety first, so we should always educate ourselves medically. Knowledge of the basics of first aid is a necessity for all those dealing with kids. That could be accomplished through having courses at civil defense or at least overviewing and practicing some useful tips on YouTube. Moreover, we should not forget about the skill of equanimity and immediate response at emer-
gency or dangerous situations, God forbid. It is also essential to bring safety requirements while vacations as precaution; things like a cap, sun cream, water, a coat, extra clothes and first-aid kit would be useful. CONFIDENCE Unless it is a harm, do it. It is good to remember such an idea. Let kids discover and never say “No” for merely breaking or not following properly the rules of the game. If that is what kids prefer, then leave them their own space and freedom. The playing space is for kids to play and activate their freedom. It is good for kids’ mind to operate and discover the surrounding. Curiosity triggers kids while playing and we would be surprised if we knew that kids innovate new ways of playing. Therefore, let them enjoy discovering such a new world. Trust them because kids can understand from their early stages of life more
Care ... BE SAFE than we expect, so building trust requires a lot of discussions and stories. For example, one can say to kids some phrases expressing safety like “I am sure that you will enjoy the vacation and take care of yourself while playing, and we will enjoy our time together.” KEEP ATTENTIVE Even for one second never leave kids alone because that very second could equal a whole life. We can ask someone else for help in case we have many kids with us. Being busy might lead to many accidents God forbid and you will be held accountable by the law of Wadeema. Being busy while having a walk by the sea may cost drowning of someone and that might lead at the street to an accident. May God bless us all and preserve us from every harm. COMFORTABLE CLOTHES To move freely, kids should wear clothes that fit with vacations like cotton clothes that cover and protect the knees and comfortable shoes to guarantee their comfort and decency of their feet. QUALITY NUTRITION One of the most important points to prepare for a vacation with kids is food and light meals. Our choices should fit with kids’ needs. We should present them homemade meals that contain vegetables, fruit and nuts as much as possible, and we should not depend on unhealthy food and sweets for which disadvantages are more than the advantages. LISTENING Time with kids is short especially when both parents work for long hours. Therefore, vacations with kids should be unique. Let us go back
Considering The Place •••
PATIENCE IS SKILL THAT CAN TRANSCEND OUR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OUR LOVED ONES, SO LET US PRACTICE THAT WITH OUR KIDS TO IMMORTALIZE THE BEST MEMORIES WITH THEM in time and act as if we were kids and enjoy our time, and documenting that with some photos is a good idea. However, it is not preferable to broadcast that live on social media. You can postpone your posts until later. RESPECTING KIDS Earlier in time, some tools emerged through which kids are attached with a rope on the back, and the other side of it is with parents in order to prevent kids from going away from their parents or companions. Such an idea is totally commercial, and it does not respect freedom of children at all. Pre-va-
cation discussion will get kids ready to the plan, and that would build trust between you and them
The following points will explain in details about the safety of kids based on the most visited places. • Pools and sea: We should not turn a blind eye to kids. They might rush suddenly towards the sea which could result in hazardous outcomes. Even if they know how to swim, sometimes there might be strong waves that a veteran swimmer cannot survive. We should also consider using suitable shoes when at pools to prevent slipping on the ground. • Public places and centers: We should be very attentive because of elevators, electric stairs and crowdedness especially during festivals and holidays. We should read carefully caution banners, draw the kids’ attention towards them and tell them that they remind people not to leave their kids alone to not fall down or get lost. • In Gardens: Kids’ safety is usually well-taken care of at such places. Games suit the age of the kids and their needs to free up their energy, but that does not mean to ignore watching them. • Desert and nature: The best vacations in The Arabian Gulf are to have bonfires, BBQ and staying up late around the fire. During such activities that might not suit kids so much many points should be considered from which the most important are not getting close from the fire, grilling sticks, metal sticks and boiling water. Moreover, we should check for unburied red-hot coals or buried but not extinguished ones. • At cinemas: it suits kids based on their age and the type of the film, but we should expect kids to fear darkness or sudden scenes and loud sounds. That might result in sudden crying or hysteria sometimes. • During home visits, we should keep an eye on our kids. Doors of balconies, windows, home appliances, bathrooms, detergent could be source of real and deadly dangers sometimes. Therefore, we can postpone our gossips and talks until later time. Patience is skill that can transcend our life and the life of our loved ones, so let us practice that with our kids to immortalize the best memories with them.
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Fromrt Hea parents and their children. Such censorship promotes communications at school and develops home-school relations which reflect positively on students achievements at school. Diligence is the main pillar to the answer my question about censorship in order to make it a goal, a motto and a normal strategy for parents within families to be a key for excellence and creativity. I think that families should coordinate educational strategies with their children and the academic institutions at the beginning of the Many people may ask about the point of raising such a question that most of them do not like or find it academic year to set plans of remarkdifficult to understand when trying to comprehend its implications that have to do with how to make able success and diligence. family censorship a chance for creativity and excellence. The question suggests many interpretations Based on the above, it is worthy to and positive points unless we admit that family censorship is still merely a concept for debates and signify the importance of enriching educational philosophy and a hotbed for pointless discussions and waste of time. the educational process. That could be achieved through coordinating the efforts of families to motivate their I do know that such a controversial term implies many children, create academic environment to guarantee excontrasting point of views. I also know that none is dear cellence, optimally invest the academic year right from to us like our children, and that all parents work very the beginning, manage time properly and systematicalhard to secure love and peace for kids of their own. From ly, focus on daily achievement and practical outcomes this very point, censorship emerges. However, who ever as much as possible and raise self-potentials. Such tips said that censorship is securing love, comfort, over pamfulfill the goal in which family censorship is door to expering and ignoring supervising kids’ education without cellence and creativity and a platform corresponds with thinking of the outcomes or applying strict rules to monthe state and the desire of families to secure a better fuBY :NOURA AL-KASSIR itor kids’ educational progress without considering any ••• ture for their children. However, both parents and chiltypes of entertainment or social activities? dren to reach a transparent vision of family censorship and children execution should outline the whole process Considering this issue, it is worthy to point out that UAE, clearly to reach the goal and overcome the obstacles that headed by H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the hinder the educational process that begins and ends at president of UAE, H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid home. In addition, parents should consider that censorAl Maktoum, the Vice President, The Prime Minister, ship should guarantee safety; it should not be merely a and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses the members source of inconvenience and pressure practiced over of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, has children to guarantee positive outcomes. I strongly emsecured the development environment and provided phasize on children participation in setting the outline means of care in order to achieve goals other than edof the academic year and talking about their family enucational security and convenience. Realizing the big gagement. Both of them complete one another. Parents school attendance rates of hardworking and enthusiastic should listen and discuss the daily matters of their chilstudents from the beginning of the academic year, UAE dren considering their points of view without necessarily has directed individuals and parties especially teachers approving them; that would be helpful for children to and school administrations to be the closest to students. speak freely and frankly. In this context, it is good to refer to the cornerstone of the whole process which is the family and how much it To conclude, I hope that the article provided clear anapplies censorship on children; that censorship should swers to my question about the idea of the necessity of not go to the extreme but keep in the middle by which the enhancing family relations to guarantee our children above mentioned question would be answered. roads of excellence and creativity triggering their potentials and gifts and to make family censorship a way of life Censorship means to have a kind of relations among to secure a prosper future for our kids.
HOW TO MAKE FAMILY CENSORSHIP A CHANCE FOR CREATIVITY AND EXCELLENCE?
Censorship means to have a kind of relations among parents and their children. Such censorship promotes communications at school and develops home-school relations which reflect positively on students achievements at school. 28
LIAISON
No for Violence •••
Physical violence might be the most prominent phenomenon in oriental society. Most of the time, it is used as a means to disciplinary, and it became a social norm related to the concept that provides Children are family property and they raise them the way they like. In fact, corporal punishment practiced by parents leads to miserable results like permanent disabilities because of head’s injury, fractures or distortions. It also increases child’s attempts to commit suicide, so child’s protection and safety is a significant and main issue that relates to everyone. Monitoring and reporting mechanism of violations against children is something extremely important; in addition, social supervision is a key to build a balanced society free from social abnormalities and problems. As long as this context is concerned, UAE is one of the pioneering countries that adopts a magnificent and well-planned humanitarian strategy to promote child’s protection, and it also escalates efforts to provide humanitarian aids for children who suffer from miserable humanitarian conditions. A good example for that is Dubai Cares Campaign to provide education for one million children suffering from poverty and armed conflicts in Asia and Africa in addition to the partnership between Dubai Cares and The International Fund of Education Cannot Wait which is for child’s education at the time of emergency. Based on the above, it becomes very important to raise awareness about child’s protection and rights in order to provide a supportive and developing environment for all personality aspects of children and to shape the main pillar on which people depend to protect and raise children. By so doing, child’s right will be manifested clearly in a way that would help us identify and overcome any defects or shortcomings. DR. BUSHRA AHMAD AKAISH
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Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei Director of the Child Safety Department - SCFA Member of Board of Trustees (SCPN)
CHILD SAFETY DEPARTMENT
How to Protect Your Children Online? Social media and emerging technologies have become the most important tools for communicating with others and updating ourselves with latest news. For children, who are always eager to explore new things, the digital world is an attractive space, particularly social media, an open source that cannot be controlled.
••• To protect children’s privacy and ensure the highest standards of care and security, it is necessary to encourage parents to play their role in raising children’s awareness on the best ways to deal with the digital world, and constantly monitor their online activities. The Child Safety Department, a subsidiary of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), has adopted a comprehensive strategy to promote community awareness on the safe use of digital technology by children and how to protect them from cyber threats. Operating under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SCFA, the Child Safety Department dedicated its third edition, launched in March 2017, to ‘Child Safety in Cyberspace’, targeting children, parents, school teachers, educators and experts, and aimed to ensure cyber security for children. The Department highlighted best practices on how to use the internet and spread informative messages that seek to protect children from social media hazards. It also stressed the need for educating parents and kids on the safe use of electronic games to ensure that children’s privacy is fully protected and that they are not exposed to violent or harmful content. 30
The UN reported that about one million people worldwide are victims of cybercrime every day, (14 victims per second), and that up to 80 million cyber-attacks occur daily. Undoubtedly, children are among the most vulnerable groups online, given their young age and lack of experience in life. Since its launch, ‘Child Safety in Cyberspace’ has organized more than 300 workshops and activities that covered more than 25,000 children, parents and experts.
The Department launched the first field study in the Emirate of Sharjah to measure families’ awareness on the cyber security of their children, targeting 5% of the total number of households in Sharjah (11,351 families). The study aimed to measure children’s awareness about the concepts of cyber security along with the safe use of social media and electronic games by their children, and will offer an integrated and reliable database for child protection organizations. As the world celebrated ‘Safer Internet Day’, CSC has conducted a special survey in Sharjah to measure student awareness of cyber security. The study targeted 5,333 students from public and private schools in Sharjah city as well as the Central and Eastern regions of the emirate. It aims to provide a reliable and accurate database that reflects students’ knowledge of online safety basics. The survey also identified most common forms of internet misconduct, how to address the related challenges and promote public awareness about cyber security in general. The results of the survey will be revealed at a later stage this year. During its participation in the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) 2018, CSC organized a range of educational workshops, and hosted a virtual reality game, that taught children how to stay safe from cyber threats and viruses. Also during SCRF, and in cooperation with Kalimat Publishing, an imprint of Kalimat Group, and ‘1001 Titles’ initiative, CSC published a series of educational story books in Arabic and Braille for visually-impaired and blind children. The stories aimed to educate young people on best practices to maintain their physical, psychological, social, and cyber security. The Child Safety Department is keen on launching initiatives that protect children and educate their parents, through innovative and interactive approaches to raise public awareness about the importance of keeping children physically and psychologically safe.
Studies and researches have always showed and affirmed the necessity of spending some time with our kids and engaging their simplest activities because that would make them emotionally balanced and develop their skills and mind. Never underestimate walking with them or joining them while they are drawing, singing or dancing. Motivate them to trigger their potentials positively; talk to them and answer their curious questions. Great love is felt when you are close to your kids.
Liaison ... CONNECT
Are You
READY TO WIN
Before Sleep
•••
Your kids go to bed, but this does not mean to stop keeping in touch with them. There is some time you can make use of. Sit close to their beds and recite them calmly and tenderly bedtime story. This calms them down, makes them sleep easily, expands their imagination and motivates them to read books and find out about what you read them every day. What is more important is that by this you improve you relationship with them and bring them closer to you. One of you children may tell you something that he comes across during the day similar to the one of the characters of the story; hence, you keep yourself very close to your children’s life indirectly.
From terrific toys, brilliant book bundles, you’ll find exciting new competitions for kids every Issue of Kanaf Magazine. Competitions On the occasion of UAE National Day Celebrations, we invite you to share your super photo with us. Prizes 1st: AED 1000 worth of cash 2nd: Book bundles for children 3rd: Educational toys set
Sharjah Police Sciences Academy issued the third part of the book entitled "Beware of the Unknown" in support of the Sharjah Child Friendly Office. This section is one of a series of three parts for the ages of 6 to 12 years.
Terms and Conditions 1. The photo should be from the child’s lens. 2. Should be especially for the National Day Celebrations only. 3. The magazine is entitled to publish the image in future issues. To Participate kindly send the photo to info@ngmedia.ae before 10/12/2018
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CORPORAL PUNISHMENT A WAY FOR DISCIPLINE OR TORTURE
Dear readers, imagine that you have a piece of clay in your hand, and you cut it into several pieces forming the shape you like. You get angry at it, so you hold it tightly with your fist to calm down. It is merely a piece of clay after all. An inanimate object that cannot see, hear, or speak. It has an expiry date above all. Imagine that that piece was your child, your young sister or your student whose soft skin is beaten hard by a stick. Imagine those kids to be whipped fiercely leaving lines and traces on their body, or leaving marks of your violent big hand on their small arms. This is exactly what is called violence against children in the name of discipline and politeness. BY : HALIMA MOHAMED r• • •
Replace corporal punishment by rewarding, punishing and positive social promotion mechanisms.
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Liaison ... STUDIES
From
Violence against children is very popular among all societies. Children of diverse ages, genders, religions and economic and social backgrounds might be subject to violence because of education approaches followed by educators. Violence is beating children fiercely and torturing them using different tools the fact that leads to pains and injuries sometimes. It is uncivil approach used by some educators in order to educate kids and correct their behavior, but it has bad consequences that might be embodied physically, psychologically and socially.
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BEHAVIOR OF ABUSED CHILDREN Many scientists and writers elaborated about that phenomenon. A study conducted by Mohammad (2016) about the effect of treatment interventions on offended children’s behavior in Sharjah. The field study targeted a group of children registered at child’s protection emergency, and the questionnaire tested some factors like how physical abuse was carried out, the identity of offender and the behavioral outcomes of that. The questionnaire revealed that the most popular physical abuse types are biting, scratching and kicking. The offender most of the time was the father. In addition, certain types of behavior appeared like phobias and hostility. PARENTS’ AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE Another study by Abo Jaber, Al-Din, Akroosh and Al-Farah (2008) showed the results of how much parents’ realize ignoring and abusing children in Jordanian society. The importance of that study is revealing some parental information about the violence against children in addition to the parental awareness of that, the parents’ practices and educating approaches available. The questionnaire was distributed on some residents of Amman city who counted 945806 persons of ages 25 to 65. The statistical analyses of parental awareness of physical abuse showed that about half of the people realize that physi-
cal abuse is very dangerous. Based on this study, we can see that there is a general knowledge of behaviors that we can classify as violent which might lead to huge impacts on children. Physical abuse is separated from discipline and politeness by a minute line. This line separates bloody and violent corporal punishment from the necessary punishment for the sake of education and correction of behavior which should be based on sound basics of punishment and reward. FAMILY COMMUNICATION AND THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF CHILDREN From another perspective, a study conducted by Zamoosh (2013) aiming at unveiling the connection between family relations and the hostile behavior of children of the preschool classes in the city of Ouargala in Algeria and shedding light on the nature and the quality of family communications. The descriptive approach was used and intent selection of sample was carried out. The children counted 100. The study revealed that there is strong inverse relation between the family communication of the targeted kids and their hostility. More family communications means less hostility and vice versa. Therefore, the way of communication between educators and children greatly affects the children’s behavior. Children would be violent if they were brought up in a violent environment which lacks effective discussions and positive approaches. Continuous use of violence at home leads to negative behavior which results in hostile children with psychological problems. Dear educators, be you children’s role model. Help them to be good children and good parents in future. Help them to have sound mind and behavior to enjoy a good reputation. The best methods to get courageous, confident and lovely children is to get away from violence and dominance and to replace beating with punishment and reward and social promotion mechanisms to accomplish the best levels of communication between you and your children.
a
Wadeem
Article (2) The competent authorities and concerned entities shall act to achieve the following: 1. Protecting the child right of : living, staying alive and developing, having all necessary opportunities and enjoying a free, secured and developed life. 2. Protecting the child from any form of negligence, exploitation and maltreatment and from any physical and psychological violence which exceeds the normal one prescribed in the religion and law as the parents’ right and the like to discipline their children. 3. Upbringing the child to be a Muslim and be proud of his national identity and respect the culture of tolerance. 4. Protecting the child best interest. 5. Educating the child of his rights and duties and commitments in a society dominated by justice, equality, tolerance and moderate values. 6. Implanting in the child’s soul the virtuous ethics, in particular, respects to his parents, family and society. 7. Disseminating the culture of the child’s rights as broad as possible using the right means. 8. Putting the child in various domains of the social life in accordance with age, the degree of growth and capabilities so as to appreciate the significance of work, the importance of having initiatives and gaining profits legitimately and the spirit of self-dependence. Article (3) This law shall guarantee that the child enjoys all the rights prescribed herein and in the other effective legislations in the State and that the child is protected without any discrimination due to origin, race, domicile, faith, a social status of disability.
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Teenagers and children targeted by cyber bullying do not like to tell their teachers or parents about that because they would feel embarrassed or be prohibited from the having their own home PCs. The indications of cyber bullying include unease and emotional discomfort.
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HOW CAN PARENTS HELP THEIR CHILDREN? • If you found out that your children are victims of cyber bullying, relax them and provide the necessary support by talking about any previous similar experience that you went through; that may be helpful to your children to feel that they were not the only ones targeted. • Show your children that bullying is not their fault, and that the perpetrator would be exposed more than the victim would. Acknowledge your children for they did the right thing and told you about the case, and remind them that they are not the only ones subject to that and assure them that you will all know what to do. Tell someone at school like the director, the nurse, the adviser or the teacher about the case. Many schools educational sectors have some approaches addressing cyber bullying and they differ among countries. • Motivate your children not to not to the perpetrator because that would look like adding oil to the fire and make it even worse. Keep threatening messages, images and texts to use them as an evidence against the perpetrator whether at school or before the police. • Restrain children’s technological access, block the perpetrator and provide advisory. Learn how to protect you children on the web and about child-friendly electronic zone.
HOW TO PROTECT
YOUR KIDS FROM CYBER BULLYING? Cyber bullying happens when someone repeatedly harasses, mistreats or mocks people through e-mails, websites, text messages, mobile phones, videos, blogs or any other social media medium. It also includes images and messages that cannot be deleted even if the victim was asked to. In other words, cyber bullying is anything published electronically to cause harm or annoy other people. BY: JAMILA ABD AL-AZIZ AL-RAWAHIH i• • • 34
HOW TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN FROM CYBER BULLYING? • Sometimes victims neither know nor can they tell whether they are subject to cyber bullying or not, so they do not react; however, they feel worse. If you know someone who suffers from or was exposed to mistreatment or harassment, there is no reason to keep hiding that. In fact, all annoying e-mails and instant text messages should be reported. • Tell someone. The first thing to do is to tell an adult in whom you trust. Often words are easier than actions. Most of the time victims have embarrassment or hesitation to report bullying. Some of them hesitate because they are not totally sure of the perpetrator identity; therefore, keep talking until you find someone to help.
Liaison ... STUDIES
Useful Applications •••
Makes the Web safer for your kids to explore by keeping you informed of which sites your kids are visiting, and blocking harmful or inappropriate sites.
NORTON ONLINE FAMILY Helps them balance time spent online by scheduling screen time limits for their device usage. Provides insights into the search terms and videos that interest your kids and flags unsafe behavior so you can discuss it with them. Get detailed reports on what your kids are doing online, right in your Inbox or on the parent portal5
It would be wise to think twice before sharing personal information, videos or images that you do not want others to access. Sometimes it is a good idea to report that to the police since they could track the unidentified perpetrator. Therefore, it would be useful to report the perpetrator. • Forget about the case and leave it until later. What we do in real life when getting away from harmful things applies for the virtual world; ignorance is the better way to stop the dominance of the perpetrator, but that is not something easy to do all times. • If you saw something annoying, leave your computer or turn off the mobile phone for a while. Do not reply or forward the message to someone else. Pay attention to other things and do what you like to do, but do not focus on what is happening. • Oppressing the desire to react or revenge. Taking a break and leaving the electronic device for a while when you are targeted would give you some time to resist the desire of violent reaction against the perpetrator. Acting when angry would make everything even worse. • You are not obliged to save e-mails, harassing text messages or other communications at the
same place you are getting them, rather you can ask your parents to make a copy of them and store it on flash memories or hard disks. • Report bullying to your service provider. Websites like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube take it seriously when reporting people misuse those websites to publish offensive content or create fake accounts. • If you are targeted by someone who sends messages or e-mails, you can report that to phone customer service or ISPs. • Blacklist the offender; most electronic devices have the block feature for offenders. It blocks their messages and notes. Unless you know how to do that, ask for help. • Protect your mobile phone and websites by a periodically changing password. It would be wise to think twice before sharing personal information, videos or images that you do not want others to have access to. • For those younger kids, the best way would be to tell an adult whom can be trusted. As for older ones, telling about cyber bullying depends greatly on the circumstances of the incident.
FAMILYSHIELD Free service from OpenDNS. Its parental control tools automatically block domains that OpenDNS has flagged under the headings “tasteless, proxy/ anonymizer, sexuality, or pornography”. One of the big pluses here is that while FamilyShield can run on PCs and mobile devices, you can also apply it to your network router and filter all the traffic that passes through it – it’s just a matter of changing the DNS server numbers in your control panel.
ZOODLES KID MODE Child Lock feature protects your phone & keeps your kids in-app, Kids can’t click through on ads or make inapp purchases, Illustrated storybooks that family members can read & record Weekly activity emails on what your kids have been playing & learning.
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WORLD FIT FOR CHILDREN Regardless of the material requirements, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the pillar of societies is childcare and good upbringing. There is no use of securing the material requirements and dedicating the outcomes of civilization and progress with the absence of the moral element. Therefore, the first international call invited to shape a general framework to achieve good physical and psychological care and upbringing for children securing them equality because they are the most vulnerable during the times of progress and deterioration. BY: ATTORNEY/ HUSAIN AL-ALAIWEH
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Proclaimed in 1959, the international law declaration of child’s right defined child as any person mentally and physically immature. According to article No.1 of The Convention of Child’s Right, issued by UN in 1989, a child means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. It is worthy to point out that the maturity age differs between countries. Besides, regional conventions on child’s right including Charter on the Rights of the Arab Child, of 1983, pointed out that the national child of the Arab World is every person from below fifteen years old. However, the Arab Framework of the Rights of the Child, of 2001, considered that a child is every Arab national below the age of eighteen years. That is similar to the definition of The African Charter of the Child’s Right and Prosperity, of 1990. All those definitions of all international charters and laws of Child’s protection without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion stressed on child’s rights of education, health, play, family life, protection from harm and abuse, life and development amongst others in order to secure children development and balance. Described as the stage of shaping and upbringing youth, international charters considered childhood one of the most significant life stages. John Locke says, “Child is born with blank-sheet like mind on which our experience is written.” All laws identified stages of childhood which they protect based on specified texts. The first stage is the stage of growth which is below the age of six through which children need their parents and cannot depend on themselves. Therefore, The Convention of Child Rights states in articles 14/2 States Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents and, when applicable, legal guardians, to 36
All those definitions of all international charters and laws of Child’s protection without distinction of any kind, in order to secure children development and balance
provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child. The second stage is the stage of education; it expands between the age of seven and the age of twelve. This stage is characterized by the duality of dependency and integration through which the role of family and parents continues while the role of school and the surrounding environment begins. Both national and international laws affirmed the compulsory education during this stage. The seventh principle of The Declaration of The Rights of the Child in 1959 provides child’s right of free education. The third stage begins at the age of twelve and ends at the age eighteen which is the age of maturity according to the international law. There was international agreement on granting more freedom and rights to children allowing them to socially integrate and work and considering respecting their personal space and life in order to transform them from the stage of protection to the stage of responsibility. SOME OF THE GENERAL RIGHTS APPLICABLE TO CHILDREN: • The right to custody and breastfeeding. • The right to holding a name, an identity and a nationality. • The right to survival and development with freedom and dignity. • The right to equality and humanitarian treatment. • The right to education. • The right to protection from ignorance, cruelty and exploitation. • The right of the disabled children to caring and protection. Established in 1919, The League of Nations paid attention to human rights including the rights of the child. As for wars and conflicts and their increasing hazards on children, efforts were exerted to set out laws for child’s protection. Based on that, Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the
Liaison ... COMPASS
Child was proclaimed in 1924. However, the outbreak of the World War II aborted those efforts; the war resulted in millions of orphans, homeless and disabled children apart from those detainees. Since the foundation of The United Nations in 1945, the world was motivated to set out a charter for human rights in 1948, after that comes the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1989 through which The General Assembly adopted the rights of the child which are some principles that shall be respected by adults whomsoever. It affirms the child’s right to love, tenderness and suitable appreciation allowing them to enjoy happy childhood and balanced growth in free and dignified environment. Many international organization concerned about children were established like UNESCO and UNICEF; nonetheless, but not all those principles were mandatory to the signatory states. Aiming at drawing attention to childhood, The General Assembly declared the year of 1979 an international year for children. After that, The UN concluded an international agreement for child in 1989. In 1990, world leaders met in New York to discuss one specific item that is children. The meeting ended with a declaration provided for obligation child’s survival, protection and development and setting out a work plan to implement the items of that declaration to fulfill child’s prosperity and secure the necessary funding. In 2002, The General Assembly also adopted two optional protocols annexed to the convention about child’s protection from sexual exploitation and armed con-
THE FIRST STAGE is the stage of growth which is below the age of six through which children need their parents and cannot depend on themselves.
THE SECOND STAGE between the age of 7 -12. it is characterized by the duality of dependency and integration
THE THIRD STAGE begins at the age of twelve and ends at the age eighteen which is the age of maturity according to the international law.
flicts. Then comes the declaration of world fit for children in 2002 with an agenda to implement it. Besides, The UN launched Say Yes to Children campaign at the same time to make the world give an ear for children and response to them; The UN also called to enroll children in making their own decision and demanded to escalate efforts to accomplish the utmost child’s benefit. The Arab World followed the same track of the international community; it declared Charter on the Rights of the Arab Child in 1983 along with The Arab Framework for the Rights of the Child in 2001, and African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child was proclaimed in 1990. Having joined the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UAE made a significant huge shift in this domain through setting out plans and strategies that deeply root the welfare of children and secure their health, humanitarian, educational and welfare rights besides rules that protect them from different types of abuse, offence, and exploitation. Moreover, WADEEMA Law marked the culmination of UAE efforts to stress on children’s enjoyment of all rights acknowledged by WADEEMA and other legislations in force in UAE and on their right to be protected without distinction of any kind, such as origin, sex, homeland, religion, social position or disability. In addition, Sharjah winning the award of Child-Friendly City affirms the ideal and safe environment that kids are enjoying to promote UAE as an international example of childhood protection and promotion. 37
“SCPN” Deriving its vision from the values of the country’s wise leadership based on tolerance and peace, and from various human experiences
38
Liaison ... INTERVIEW
SHAIKHA BELHOUL AL MUHAIRI SHARJAH CHILDHOOD PROTECTION NETWORK
TOGETHER WE BUILD OUR
CHILDREN FUTURE Building on the system of child care established by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in the Emirate of Sharjah where there are federal, local and private institutions working in the field of child protection, it was necessary to create a network to coordinate efforts between institutions and activate communication and cooperation mechanisms, as well as exchange experiences and raise awareness in the specialised fields related to children i• • • To highlight the Sharjah Childhood Protection Network, Kanaf magazine met with H.E Shaikha Belhoul Al Muhairi, Chairperson of SCPN’s Board of Trustees: What role does the Network play, and what are its main objectives? The Network aims to enhance cooperation and interaction between organisations working in child protection in Sharjah and UAE. It seeks to build the professional capacities of child field workers and volunteers, develop their performance according to best international practices and encourage expertise exchange between institutions working in child protection and enhance their performance. The Network is fully capable and qualified and through working with child protection institutions, it develops mechanisms to monitor and document violence and abuse against children. In addition, it oversees the training process of cadres working in the field at all levels. Deriving its vision from the values of the country’s wise leadership based on tolerance and peace, and from various human experiences, the Network aims to safeguard children and the responsibilities of all entities towards them. It believes that children are the future and their protection provides a safer and more stable future.
T
What are the priorities of your work? Our main priority is to raise the level of coordination between institutions and cadres working in childhood protection, which in turn regulates referrals for common cases, contributes to promoting kids’ protection in the Emirate and increases social awareness of the importance of child protection. We work on creating strategic plans that strengthen the Network’s central role by fulfilling the needs of childhood institutions and departments. This is done through organising workshops and guidance researches that act as a connection point between childhood workers and those concerned with the field locally, regionally and internationally in line with the country’s strategy to exchange knowledge between childhood institutions. The Network’s role is not limited to training and rehabilitation only, it extends to include several committees monitoring negative phenomena concerning children and giving direction in terms of eliminating them. It also includes preparing scientific materials and researches, organising events for children and de-
Shaikha Belhoul Al Muhairi, Chairperson of SCPN’s Board of Trustees:
signing developmental programmes for child care in Sharjah. How does the Network support Sharjah’s status as a child-friendly city? The Network play a major role in the rehabilitation of childhood cadres in Sharjah. Our agenda includes the implementation of initiatives and development projects that contribute to improving childhood institutions and elevate the status of Sharjah as one of the most important cities concerned with children globally. On top of that, we support the Emirate’s goals by making it a child-friendly city in a sustainable manner. SCPN is an added value to the Emirate through the work it does towards developing and improving childhood institutions. It works on attracting qualified Arab and international capacities in the field of childhood to exchange experiences with local institutions as well as train and supervise their staff and determine their requirements and fulfill them, in addition to launching initiatives that promote such institutions in line with the directives of our wise leadership and Sharjah’s future aspirations. What is your work mechanism with your partners (locally and nationally), and who are your most prominent ones? Organisations often face a number of challenges upon their inception and SCPN was no exception. However, we managed to 39
Liaison ... INTERVIEW overcome those challenges through a set of mechanisms and tools that include signing agreements with partners, organising various field visits, strengthening our presence locally through participation in events and forums and by launching initiatives for childhood workers and children. We have proposed standards for the performance of childhood institutions and established a specialised database in the Network to serve as a reference for these institutions. Furthermore, we have launched awareness campaigns on children’s rights and protection across our social media accounts, published news of the Network, as well as awareness leaflets on how to look after children to meet their needs and elevate their quality of life, the emirate of Sharjah and the country as a whole. What are your most highlighted events and activities, and how do they integrate with your partners’ activities? We have created a plan that acts as a road map for the Network to improve child’s system and serves a wide segment of childhood workers. Among these activities is organising the Ideas Forum, the first of its kind at the Emirate’s level and through which we came out with a set of recommendations that are being implemented, in addition to field visits and organising workshops and intellectual forums to discuss children’s reality in the Emirate and the challenges children and childhood workers face. As a result, the Network comes up with recommendations that would improve the services it provides and complement its goals of raising awareness among society groups and workers of the importance of children and preserving their lives, highlighting their duties towards the protection of children and securing their future, as well as the importance of encouraging love and compassion in children. You aspire to become the first network of its kind specialised in child protection in the Arab world, how do you work towards achieving that goal? Our ultimate goal is to be recognised internationally by realising our main objective of being the certified network for the training and rehabilitation of childhood field workers. We seek to achieve that by creating policies and strategies and implementing them. Since the foundation of the Network, we have taken on the responsibility of protecting children by providing them with a safe environment in cooperation with concerned entities in the Emirate. The aim is to find complete solutions to problems and societal phenomena that affect children towards the creation of an influential generation. You have launched different kinds of Network memberships; how do they support the Network’s goals and activities? The aim of the Network’s membership program 40
UAE plays a leading role in the childhood field through local and international initiatives that the country has been continuously implementing is to create a conscious, professional and welltrained network in child protection field. Through the program, we seek to attract personalities with social impact, entities concerned with childhood such as hospitals, health centres, schools and others, together with childhood workers including teachers, specialists, doctors, lawyers, media professionals, researchers, parents and individuals concerned with childhood protection. We have four types of memberships in conformity with a set of specific and constant terms and criteria, these include: The institutions membership, granted for one year after paying the specified fees. In order to be qualified, the institution has to be a general, public or private institution concerned with the field of childhood. Another type is the individuals membership which is granted to individuals interested in the childhood field. The third type is the youth membership given to youth who are members of educational institutions. Students membership however is free of charge provided that the applicant is a student enrolled in an educational institution, under the age of 18, and is interested in the field as well. A set of benefits is associated with the Network’s membership for institutions, including a 50% discount to participate in workshops and conferences organised by the Network. The application procedure for the membership is easy and can be done through the Network’s website (www.cpn.ae). How do you view the reality of child protection in UAE? UAE plays a leading role in the childhood field
through local and international initiatives that the country has been continuously implementing. This is manifested in the country’s support for UNICEF’s local, regional and international programmes and projects aimed at guaranteeing children’s rights around the world and improving their chances for survival and growth. UAE accords its children great care and attention, which is evident in the laws, plans and programmes of the country’s various government and private institutions. The child protection law “Wadeema” has been an ideal guarantee for children’s wellbeing. Furthermore, UAE’s Constitution includes provisions stipulating childhood and motherhood care by the community, obligatory elementary education and free school education at all stages, as well as health care for all members of society. Additionally, UAE is one of the first countries to dedicate a child’s day on March 15th of every year. It is a great indication of the importance the country devotes to children in order to qualify them as future leaders. What are your future aspirations? We look forward to becoming the first network of its kind for childhood protection globally in order to support the Emirate’s efforts to nurture and empower children, protect their rights and improve their lives in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
TOGETHER IN SHARJAH
To Sharjah’s Children •••
The selection of Sharjah as a ‘Child Friendly City’ is an accolade to the centric efforts of our wise leadership, who understands that children’s rights are inherent, and it is our responsibility to protect them. We collaborated, collected feedback, and encouraged children and young adults of Sharjah to express themselves about the city they live in. It was their participation that led to this project’s success. They are a true stakeholder as their sense of responsibility towards the community is well-elevated. Such collaborations exemplify the cornerstone of human achievements. When children are respected and consulted, it stimulates them to participate and develop creative ideas to improve their city and country. Sharjah provides a safe, clean, and creative environment for children to blossom and will continue its coordinated efforts to enhance their rights and their participation in their city. i• • • DR. HESSA KHALFAN AL GHAZAL Executive Director of Sharjah Baby Friendly Office (SBFO), Member of the Sharjah Childhood Protection Network
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Childhood Tech No doubt that every single home has many smart devices used by kids; however, to avoid wasting the childhood time, kids could enjoy useful games and applications that help them learn something new every day. We hereby will overview the best applications that provide unique content in order to achieve joy, education and benefits for kids. BY: AHMAD SALEM SAHOUHH
•••
Lamsa Application
This is considered one of the best Arabian applications which combines education and joy together; it is an educational and entertaining application which has more than 300 unique stories and games.
Konooz Al-Elm Game
It contains several solutions to face kids’ challenges, and it aims at simply and attractively raising kids based on Islamic teachings that they need. The game contains a group of three-choice questions triggering kids to think and choose what they see is fit; after that, the game shows the right option. It provides a motivating and directing soundtrack to let kids feel as if they were in a contest TV show; in addition, the game is accompanied by a kid voice reading questions and the three choices. 42
Hidden My Game by Mom – Escape Room
This Despite it is simple, yet it is far enjoyable. It has some exciting, simple and uncomplicated riddles. The idea of the game revolves around a mother who hides a toy for her kid while he tries to find it out; however, this is not easy all the time.
Together in Sharjah ... CHILD GUIDE
MY GRANDMOTHER IS A TREE Written by Sabah Deby, Drawings : Sylvia Vivanco. The story about a tree that encounters a little girl who is not allowed to go to school. The tree turned into a lady to solve the problem of the girl, and she gathered the children’s dreams and wishes, and provided them with a safe environment to live, play and learn.
It’s Full of Sparks
This game is about a dynamite trying to save its life by throwing itself in the nearest water available. However, it is not something easy because of the obstacles and the puzzles that should be quickly solved, otherwise the end will be an explosion. The graphics and the soundtrack are amazing so that I recommend that you try it.
THE DUCK TUM TUM Written by Sahar Naja, Drawings: Fadi Fadel. It tells the story of a duck who goes out for a walk, and is surprised by a wolf who wants to trick her, but she remembers her mother’s advice and refuses the wolf’s request.
Pennybox
CODA GAME
This application is one of the inspiring applications for kids. It joins both joy and learning. Many kids have wide imagination willing to create and design their own games; this application teaches kids how to do that.
Sharja Book F h Activit air ies
This game allows parents to give instructions for their kids like doing homework and tests, washing the laundry and awarding them prizes in a way makes kids compete to do their tasks to win top prizes. The prizes could be weekly or monthly based on parents’ preferences.
THE LITTLE RAT Written by Reem Al-Gurg, Drawings: Rana Kadri. Troy is one of the children’s diaries in the time of social networking and tablet use. It presents a vision of how children live virtual lives and how they can be endangered by virtual friends.
Children’s Plays
Japanese Culture
The Animation Workshop
The comedy “Laila and the Wolf” and “The King of Black”, inspired by “The Lion King”, an extraordinary show that will surprise the audience.
The “Wonderful Ninja” Show: Young visitors and their families will learn Japanese culture closely.
Children will learn how to draw vivid cartoon characters to have fun moments with them.
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GOVERNMENTAL KINDERGARTEN OF SHARJAH
YOUR KIDS ARE IN SAFE HANDS •••
Guided by HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Court and Ruler of Sharjah. The Emirate of Sharjah pays a great attention for kids’ care and empowerment. That has started for so long through setting the infrastructure for kids’ care and building kindergartens that have brought kids up and paved the road to develop their creative gifts and hobbies. Providing suitable requirements, Sharjah also contributed to overcome all challenges that hinder the good upbringing of kids qualifying them to be good and influencing people in society. Creating kindergartens started in 2003 when four kindergartens were opened at schools of Sharjah aiming at providing safe and caring environment for kids of educational and administrative commissions at those schools, but there was no supervising process for that. In 2008, His Highness ordered Sharjah Education Council to financially, technically and administratively supervise the role of kindergartens at schools, directorates, organizations and both social and governmental commissions of Sharjah. That
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resulted in 18 kindergartens supervised by Sharjah Education Council between 2008 and 2015. Among those kindergartens were 16 at Sharjah’s schools and two at governmental directorates namely Directorate of Social Services and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Based on the concern of His Highness to get the utmost inclusive benefits of those kindergartens that operate according to a complementary entity of educational programs supervised by credible national staffs, an initiative was launched by His Highness in 2012 to create 66 new kindergartens to protect kids that mothers usually leave at home with servants when going to work. That would provide a sound educational environment for kids. It is worthy to point out that by 2017/2018 beneficiaries reached about 800 kids distributed in 25 kindergartens. increases social awareness of the importance of child protection. We work on creating strategic plans that strengthen the Network’s central role by fulfilling the needs of childhood institutions and departments. This is done through organising workshops and
Together in Sharjah ... SERVICES guidance researches that act as a connection point between childhood workers and those concerned with the field locally, regionally and internationally in line with the country’s strategy to exchange knowledge between childhood institutions. The Network’s role is not limited to training and rehabilitation only, it extends to include several committees monitoring negative phenomena concerning children and giving direction in terms of eliminating them. It also includes preparing scientific materials and researches on child protection, organising events for children and designing developmental programmes for Governmental kindergartens of Sharjah features suitable design that provides kids and kindergartens monitoring in addition to the proper health conditions like natural light and air. Besides, many minute safety details were considered based on the age kids’ age between 3 months and 4 years old. For example, covering the outer ground with a rubber layer and a high wall on the surrounding to secure the highest safety levels, protecting the doors to avoid the danger of kids closing them and providing extinguishers. Moreover, many other extra features were added to guarantee and promote safety and health standards for kids’ protection. Efforts, programs and initiatives of kindergartens’ administration in Sharjah Education Council in the context of child protection. The governmental kindergartens of Sharjah are concerned to set mechanisms to promote child right including celebrating Universal Children’s Day in 20 November to strengthen the efforts aiming to promote international cooperation to protect children and raise awareness of their rights of protection. The Council is also aware of the value and the role of the family in pushing the wheel of progress further. Kindergartens also have a prominent and constructive role in raising the awareness in health protection and consultation in the context of children’s health and nutrition, the benefits of natural breastfeeding, protection of infectious diseases and setting policies and programs necessary to promote health consultation of kids. Staffs at kindergartens are always in a state of continuous or periodical training about the health of mothers
and children, psychological care, first aid and other related domains. Concerned about providing a natural environment for kids’ upbringing, The Council, represented by the administrations of the kindergartens, exert all efforts available in cooperation with Early Intervention Center for humanitarian services to take necessary measures to early identify disabilities and retreated growth. The scan covers many sides including communication, physical skills, solving kids’ social and personal problems and identifying the strength points to support them the fact that helps to solve kids’ problems. The council had made a huge achievement by winning the Award of Excellence for Arab Governments Achievements 2017 for the inclusive scan for governmental kindergartens’ kids of Sharjah. Considering the benefits of natural breastfeeding that protects children from many diseases, the kindergartens of Sharjah sought providing specialized rooms for breastfeeding fully equipped based on the requirements stated by The Office of Sharjah Baby Friendly to end up with breastfeeding friendly kindergartens. For that, kindergartens were awarded during the ceremony of the announcement of the results of Sharjah Baby Friendly campaign for their success in applying the adopted environmental and health standards. In the context of efforts to protect children from sexual harassment, the administration of governmental kindergartens launched a campaign named How to Protect Myself. The campaign included educational and interactive workshops for kids in which they learned methods of how to take care of your body and keep attentive against and sexual harassment cases to which children might be exposed. Those workshops depend on educational storytelling and direct warning about touching sensitive body parts by strangers. Contributions of The Council are still there in the context of children’s protection; that is obvious through building kindergartens in all the cities of Sharjah to achieve the target pointed out by H.H, Ruler of Sharjah, to reach 66 kindergartens to secure care and safety for kids. Year
No. of Kinder-
No. of kids
gartens
registered
2009
5
93
2012
10
215
2014
18
479
2016
16
581
2018
25
823
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CHILD’S HELPLINE BREAK SOCIAL SILENCE ••• Among its priorities, Social Services Department pays a great attention to attain protection programs for vulnerable and marginalized children in society through a department specialized for this purpose. It also provided some services and methods to protect those children and secure rights and consultations for them. The twenty-four hour Child’s helpline on the free telephone number of 800700 is one of the most prominent means that enabled the department to help some offended children. Children helpline functions nationally, and the geographical distribution based on the emirate scale points out that 67% of beneficiaries are from Sharjah, while 33% are from the other six emirates.
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Thirty-seven cases required urgent interventions due to the extreme danger the child was exposed to; it was dealt with that case, and the child was recovered. During 2017, 629 services were provided through the helpline. The highest rate of that was 47.7% as follow-up measures to verify child’s safety and protection from any threat, then comes providing advisory, guidance and counselling service for children or those who take care of them with a rate of 21%. 18.6% of urgent interventions were referred to other bodies be them related to The Department of Social Services, other parties within the emirate or those out of UAE aiming at taking the necessary urgent measures to protect children from abuse or violence.
Together in Sharjah ... SERVICES CHILD HELPLINE INTERVENTIONS FOR REPORTED CASES Statement
47.7
Providing advisory, guidance and consultations
20.9
Referral externally (within the emirate and out of department, out of the emirate or out of UAE)
18.6
Urgent intervention
5.6
Teaching the children how to defend themselves
4.3
Reporting the perpetrator
1.9
Dealing with perpetrator to never repeat the abuse
0.9
Abuse recovery (taking children away from danger zone and providing physical recovery)
0.1
Total
800700
Percentage
Responding by verifying child’s safety
•••
Child's Helpline was established in 2007 as the first free line specialized for child's protection in UAE. It also granted an effective membership of Child Helpline International CHI as the representative of UAE. Specialized teams deal with reported cases about child's abuse, problems and dangers be them physical, sexual or emotional ones or commercial exploitation. The helpline functions as a work mechanism of early interventions in cases of dangers practiced upon children. Some examples of achieved goals and effects of helpline are: • Easy and simple reporting process through a free number the fact that broke the social silence to report all types of child's abuse and threat which are considered dangers of different levels in addition to unveiling all hidden violations that all turned a blind eye to due to the absence of child helpline. • Child helplines become a social system to defend child's right and an entity that resist those who threatening children and violating their rights. • Child helpline is a robust mechanism to present real psychological and family support to help in the good upbringing, the educational approaches and the methods of limiting child's psychological problems. • It represents national monitoring mechanism for childhood and its problems through analyzing the nature of reported problems and studying those cases reported of all callers.
100.0
%0.9 %1.9 %4.3 %5.6
%18.6 %47.7
%20.9
CLASSIFICATION OF CHILD HELPLINE REPORTED CASES IN 2017 Statement
Percentage
Physical abuse, violence commercial exploitation and electronic extortion
393
Family problems
173
School problems
104
Legal problems
102
Behavioral problems
56
Economic problems
36
Physical health problems
29
Displacement problems
18
Health problems (psychological, social and mental)
13
Problems of peers’ relation
12
Problems of sexual orientation
2
Total
938
400
300
200
173
100
104
102
56 36 0
Physical abuse
Family problems
School problems
Legal problems
Behavioral problems
Economic problems
29
18
Physical health Displacement problems problems
13
12
2
Health problems
Problems of peers' relation
sexual orientation
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Located in the vibrant heart of the city of Sharjah, Al Majaz Waterfront, featuring stunning scenery overlooking the Khaled Lagoon. 48
WHERE TO GO IN SHARJAH?
AL MAJAZ WATERFRONT
THE BEATING HEART OF THE CITY ••• This iconic leisure destination boasts breathtaking landscapes and incredible architectural designs that reflect Sharjah’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Featuring a lively fun-filled atmosphere, the waterfront attracts visitors of all backgrounds to explore its wonders, this popular tourism project offers an impressive variety of recreational facilities and welcomes visitors and families of all ages. Attractions include the spectacular Sharjah Musical Fountain overlooking fine international restaurants and cafés, a jogging track, snack and drink kiosks, a magnificent mosque, the Maraya Art Park, the Splash Park for kids with a children’s playground, mini golf for all ages, wonderful greeneries for relaxation and areas for hosting events and activities. ALWAN This fun filled activity Centre has been designed with both kids and parents in mind. The six sections are filled with a safe and soft floored crèche, hair salon, arts and crafts, reading and computer rooms as well as a special events hall that can be used for parties and tailored activities. Parents can leave kids in the care of the professional team to learn all sorts of exciting skills ranging from storytelling to yoga and piano lessons. Entrance: Fee of AED 42 for the first hour. A fee of AED 21 will be applied for each additional hour. Timing: Sun – Wed: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm Thu.: 8:00 am – 12:00 midnight PLAY AREA The open air playground is the perfect place for children to socialize, interact and develop with their peers. It has been specifically designed to provide a safe environment for kids to have fun in as well as encourage physical activities. The Play Area is suitable for different age groups from 2 to 12 year olds, as well as having easy access for children with special needs. Price: AED 25 ( School/Nursery Trip: AED 15) Timing: Winter Season: Sat.-Wed: 9:00 a.m. To 12:00 midnight Thu.& Fri : 9:00 a.m. To 1:00 a.m. Summer Season: Sat.- Wed: 4:00 p.m. To 12:00 midnight Thu. & Fri.: 3:00 p.m. To 1:00 a.m.
MINI GOLF Create your own family team and enjoy 18 holes of fun filled mini golf around this interactive and exciting course. Keep score and see who is going to be the next Tiger Woods! Price: Children: AED 15 | Adults: AED 25 | School Trip: AED 10 (per person) Timing: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight - weekdays 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. – weekends MINI SPLASH PARK There is nothing more fun for kids than being able to enjoy splashing around in the waterfalls, exploring the water tunnels and watching exciting aquatic displays flow around the 800 square metre Mini Splash Park. This area is the first of its kind in the region and has been designed to be completely safe and suitable for children including easy wheelchair access. Age 1 – 12 years Price: AED 35 (School/Nursery Trip: AED 25) Timing: Daily: 10:00 a.m. To 12:00 midnight FAMILY TRAIN If you want to relax and enjoy the green space then look no further than the train service, which will pick up and drop off at various points to provide a scenic trip throughout the 231,000 square metre space. Price: Child: AED 15 | Adult: AED 15 Timing: Winter: 2:00 p.m. – 12:00 midnight Summer: 4:00 p.m. – 11: p.m. Fri: 2:00 pm – 12:00 midnight Sat: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm For more: call: Tel: +971 6 552 1212 Or visit: www.almajaz.ae 49